Tuesday (September 16)

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Game 1

Akutsu Arrival

September 15, Game 1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s80_p2009

In E2-1, Akutsu is playing in his first M-League game and looking for his first M-League win. He is currently the dealer in 3rd place and 4,400 behind 1st place Hisato.

From the very start, Akutsu has a double riichi chance, but fails to get the right tile. Even though he doesn’t get it, his hand is still very strong and very likely to get tanyao and possible sanankou or iipeikou. On his third turn, he makes a triplet of 2s, making sanankou happen and staying dama on a 4m kanchan, giving himself a chance for a potential suuankou upgrade.

Within the go-around, Matsumoto discards the 4m and deals into Akutsu. Akutsu wins the hand with Tanyao/Sanankou for 9,600+300, getting his first M-League hand.

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Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8001

In E2-2, Akutsu’s hand is (unsurprisingly) worse than the previous, being only 4-shanten. However, the red 5m and the red 5p in his hand does provide some good potential value. Within the first row, he secures both red fives and makes a pair of easts. By the end of the row, he is 2-shanten.

As Akutsu tries to get to tenpai in the second row, Matsumoto gets there first and waits on a 3m/4m shanpon. However, the wait is weak and Matsumoto decides to stay dama with his yakuless hand. Later on, Akutsu gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 9m/east shanpon, wanting the double east for mangan minimum.

During the ippatsu round, Matsumoto draws a fourth 6p and callls a concealed kan, giving Akutsu another dora. But, when he draws a dangerous 3s as his rinshan, he breaks tenpai. But, as one door closes, another opens. At the end of the second row, Aki gets to tenpai on a 4p tanki, though none are left in the wall.

Soon after, Matsumoto reopens the door and gets to tenpai on a 3s/4m shanpon. But, just like Aki, there are none left in the wall.

On Akutsu’s second-last draw, he gets the east and wins the hand. Hitting the uradora, Akutsu wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Double East/Dora 1/Aka 2/Ura 1 for a huge 8,000+200 all. This marks the second day in a row where an M-League newcomer gets a baiman in their debut.

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Akutsu Above

Sptember 15, Game 1, S1-1

In S1-1, Akutsu is well in the lead with 46,200, but there is no limit to how high you can get in mahjong.

Akutsu starts off the hand at 4-shanten with a floating 7m dora and a route to a 234 sanshoku with the right tiles. The first row creates a 234s sequence and a mix of manzu tiles. Depending on how his 1223457m shape in manzu goes, it may or may not create a sanshoku.

At the start of the second row, Akutsu draws the 6m, securing the dora and creating a wide shape potential. A turn later, he completes a 234p sequence and calls riichi on a 258m wait. Tanyao is guaranteed on all waits, but only the 2m gives him sanshoku for the haneman minimum.

At the start of the second row, 4th place dealer Matsumoto gets to tenpai on a 7m penchan. As the turns go on, Akutsu’s other winning tiles get held, leaving only a single 2m in the wall. Then, in the middle of the third row, Matsumoto draws and discards that final 2m and deals into Akutsu. Akutsu wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Tanyao/Sanshoku/Dora 1/Ura 1 for 12,000+300, moving Matsumoto into the negatives and Akutsu up to 58,500.

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Results

Game 3

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Game 2

Toitoi Time

September 16, Game 2, S1-0

In S1-0, Shiratori is very close to the lead, just 800 behind 1st place Uchikawa. With any win, he will move into 1st place.

With Shiratori’s first draw, he is incredibly at iishanten, holding pairs of white dragon and west, and triplets of 3s and 6s. Making a pair of 7m on his very next turn, the chance at another suuankou is real.

However, Shiratori chooses not to go that route and instead calls pon on the west when it comes out, putting him into a quick tenpai on a white dragon/7m shanpon. On his very next turn, he gets the 7m and wins the hand. With the concealed triplet of 7m, Shiratori wins with Toitoi/Sanankou for 2,000/4,000.

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4th to 1st

September 16, Game 2, S4-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8003

In S4-1, Okada is in 4th place and is the final dealer. Being within 12,000 of 1st place, a single dealer mangan can put her on top.

Okada starts out with a decent 2-shanten hand with a red 5m for value. In the first row, Okada incorporates the red 5m as part of a ryanmen and creates a 345p sequence, getting her to a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten. At the start of the second row, she creates a 456m sequence and calls riichi on a 25s ryanmen.

With Shiratori’s draws, he is able to push relatively safely against Okada’s riichi. Near the end of the second row, he calls a 456m chii and gets to tenpai on a 3s kanchan, hoping to win to end the game.

In the middle of the third row, Okada draws the 2s and wins the hand. hitting the uradora, Okada wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 4,000+100 all, pushing her up to 1st place.

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Sho Time

September 16, Game 2, S4-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9001

In S4-2, Shiratori is down to 2nd place after Okada passed him the previous hand. To overcome the 4,400 deficit and finish in 1st place, Shiratori needs a 2/30 direct hit, a 2/40 tsumo or a 3/30 ron.

Shiratori starts out the hand 3-shanten for seven pairs and 4-shanten for a standard hand. He has a lone white dragon dora, but the connected red 5p is better for surefire value. With the luck of the draw, Shiratori manages to pair up the white dragon on turn 3, giving him an option to call pon and have a mangan. On his very next turn, he draws a third one, getting him to 2-shanten.

As Shiratori waits to complete his other shapes to complete, Uchikawa tries to rush his hand to get to 3rd place. With a 1s and an 8s pon, Uchikawa gets to tenpai at the end of the first row on a 3m/6m shanpon.

On Shiratori’s turn, he advances to iishanten. Two turns later, he fills in a 7p kanchan and stays dama on a 6s/5p shanpon. If he wins the hand, he wins the game. If he deals into Uchikawa, he will drop down to 4th place and push Uchikawa into 2nd. The stakes are high.

In the middle of the second row, Shiratori switches to a 69p ryanmen. The timing is perfect as Uchikawa discards the 9p, dealing into Shiratori. Shiratori wins the hand with White Dragon/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 8,000+600, finishing the game in 1st.

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Results

Game 4

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