Game #1
U-Next Pirates
Akasaka
Drivens
Kadokawa
Sakura Knights
EX Furinkazan
Ideal Start
May 6, Game 1, E1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p3067
In E1-0, Okada is the starting player for the 3rd place Kadokawa Sakura Knights, sitting in the west seat.
Okada starts off the hand 3-shanten with a secured red 5m. The first row was mainly dominated by dealer Mizuhara, who calls pon on the double east and later calls kan on it, pushing her to iishanten. Even with Mizuhara’s advancement, Okada is able to calmly match her, getting to iishanten soon after her. In the second row, Okada pairs up an 8s dora and fills in a 3p penchan. Being tenpai, she calls riichi and waits on a 69p ryanmen. During the ippatsu round, Asami draws and discards the 6p trying to maintain iishanten and deals into Okada. Okada wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tanyao/Dora 2/Aka 1 for 12,000.
Sayaka Strength
May 6, Game 1, E4-1
In E4-1, Okada is in 1st place after winning two of the past three hands. If she wins this one, she would be the only winner of the east round.
Okada starts out with another 3-shanten with a connected red 5m. In the first row, Okada forms a potential 678s iipeikou shape, fills in a 7p penchan and waits with a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten. At the start of the second row, Okada draws an 8s to complete the iipeikou and calls riichi on a 47m ryanmen, guaranteed at least a mangan.
To Okada’s left is Asami waiting at iishanten. After she survives the ippatsu round, she is able to call pon on the red dragon and get to tenpai on a 3p kanchan.
On Mizuhara’s turn, she draws the 7m. Holding a wide iishanten with a pair of 4m dora and having no safe tiles, Mizuhara throws the 7m and deals into Okada. Okada wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Iipeikou/Aka 1 for 88,000+300.
Safety With 3s
May 6, Game 1, S2-0
In S2-0, Mizuhara is in 4th place, just 900 behind 3rd place dealer Asami.
From the start, we see Asami 2-shanten for chiitoi with pairs of east, 5m, 2p and 5s (including the red 5s), while Mizuhara is 2-shanten for chiitoi as well with pairs of 8m, 2s, 8s and 4p. Also in Mizuhara’s hand is a lone red 5p and a dora 1s. On turn 2, Asami draws the 1s as a pair candidate as well. After making a pair of 7s on turn 4 and the red dragon on turn 5, Asami gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 1s dora tanki.
At ths point, danger is looming for Mizuhara. Holding four pairs and a triplet, the temptation to go for toitoi or even suuankou is real. If she goes for either of them, then she will throw the dora 1s and deal into a dealer haneman. During the ippatsu round, Mizuhara makes the 3m into a triplet, putting her suuankou iishanten. She throws the red 5p, needing the 3s so she doesn’t end up dealing in.
On her very next turn, she manages to get that 3s, keeping her safe and getting her to tenpai. Mizuhara calls riichi and waits on an 8m/8s shanpon. If she draws either of them herself, she would have a mangan minimum hand.
During the ippatsu round, Matsugase throws the 8m and deals into Mizuhara. Mizuhara wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Dora 1 for 5,200 plus one riichi stick.
Closing It Out
May 6, Game 1, S4-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s60_p2986
In S4-1, Okada is in 1st place and wanting to end the game. In 3rd place is Mizuhara, just 4,100 behind dealer Matsugase. For Mizuhara to move into 2nd place, she needs a 2/30 direct hit, a 2/40 tsumo or a 3/30 ron.
Okada starts out 4-shanten with a pair of white dragons and two loosely connected red fives. Mizuhara is a bit closer at 3-shanten with a dora 4p. After forming a sequence and calling pon on the white dragon, Okada quickly advances her hand and gets to iishanten on turn 5. Across the table, Mizuhara is at iishanten as well, but with a closed hand and looking for a more secure connection for the 4p. With limited value, any open calls for Mizuhara would put her at risk of not having enough. At the start of the second row, Mizuhara gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 45p wait, able to win any way she wants.
With Mizuhara’s discarded 4m, Okada calls pon to get herself tenpai on a 36s ryanmen. On Mizuhara’s draw, she draws and discards the 6s and deals into Okada. Okada wins the hand with White Dragon/Aka 1 for 2,000, ending the game and pushing Mizuhara into 4th place by 1,000.
Final Scores
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s60_p247
Twitter: https://twitter.com/m_league_jikkyo/status/1787445003884879875
Standings
The sizeable win by Okada helps move her team closer to the top two. With the U-Next Pirates going down to 4th in the final hand, the team drops into 2nd and the EX Furinkazan moves into 1st place overall. With the 3rd place by Asami, the Drivens fall into negative territory.
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