Tuesday (October 7)

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Game 1

Shibuya Start

October 7, Game 1, E1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9009

In E1-0, Matsumoto is the starting dealer and starts off 4-shanten with a secured red 5p. The first row is quite strong in its advancement, giving him a 258m three-sided wait and a 69s ryanmen. At the start of the second row, Matsumoto draws a red 5p and heads for six blocks. He needs to draw either the 4p (which uses the red 5p) or the 7p (which fills in a penchan) for a guaranteed good wait.

In the middle of the second row, Matsumoto draws a 9s to complete the sequence and gets to iishanten. Soon after, he creates a 135p shape then draws the 2p. Though it makes the red 5p useless, it allows Matsumoto to call riichi and wait on the 258m three-sided wait.

Shimoishi gets to tenpai soon after on a 3p wait, but has no yaku, A turn later, Mizuhara gets to tenpai and stays dama on a 3m kanchan.

WIth a big improvement, Shimoishi switches his wait and calls riichi on a 147s wait.

Two turns later, Mizuhara discards the 2m trying to avoid Shimoishi’s riichi and deals into Matsumoto. Matsumoto wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Dora 1/Ura 1 for 12,000 plus a riichi stick.

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Closed Honitsu

October 7, Game 1, S3-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9010

In S3-2, the scores are close. 4th place Matsumoto is just 2,800 behind 1st place Shimoishi. With two honba, any win will give a good advantage going into the final hand.

Matsumoto’s staring hand is 2-shanten with a pair of white dragons. He does have a cluster of manzu, but he has a 3s kanchan and 69s ryanmen in his hand as well. On turn 2, he draws another manzu and starts to break his kanchan. Continuing to draw manzu, Matsumoto decides to confirm honitsu by breaking his ryanmen on turn 4, waiting with iishanten.

In the middle of the second row, Matusmoto gets to tenpai and waits dama on a 7m kanchan. Guaranteed at least a mangan, he can upgrade it to a haneman with tsumo or a red 5m swap.

Within the go-around, Mizuhara gets to tenpai on a 9p tanki, guaranteed at least 9,600+600 if she wins. Unfortunately, none remain in the wall.

Two turns later, Matsumoto draws the 7m and wins the hand. Matsumoto wins with Tsumo/Honitsu/Ittsuu for 3,000+200/6,000+200, taking a 13,000 lead going into the final hand.

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Open Honitsu

October 7, Game 1, S4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8506

In S4-0, Takizawa is the dealer in 3rd place, 2,100 behind 2nd place Shimoishi and 15,100 behind 1st place Matsumoto.

Takizawa starts out with an interesting starting hand with pairs of red dragon, green dragon, 9m and 5m (including the red 5m). He also has a 2s dora for potential value. When the 9m comes out, he immediately calls pon. As he draws a 4m on turn 4, he looks to be going for honitsu. With a pon on the green dragon and red dragon, he gets to tenpai and waits on a 2s dora tanki. Soon after, he switches to a white dragon tanki for shousangen and haneman guaranteed.

Though, having called pon on the other two dragons, calling ron on the white dragon is near impossible. So, when Takizawa gets a 6m, he switches to a 36m nobetan. He later switches again, this time on a 47m nobetan.

In his third row, Takizawa draws the 4m and wins the hand. Takizawa wins with Honitsu/Green Dragon/Red Dragon/Aka 1 for 4,000 all, moving into 1st place.

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Results

Game 35

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Game 2

Takamiya Riichi

October 7, Game 2, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8507

In S2-0, Takamiya is in 2nd place and 500 behind 1st place Kobayashi. Takamiya starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a red 5p and a bunch of kanchans. In the first row, she is able to fill in a ryanmen and convert a kanchan to a ryanmen. But, she is still 2-away from tenpai.

At the start of the second row, she fills in a 2m kanchan for iishanten. The perfect draw would be 6p to secure the red 5p and get pinfu. On her very next turn, she draws the 6p and calls riichi on a 58m ryanmen. At the end of the row, she draws the 8m and wins the hand. Hitting the uradora, Takamiya wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 4,000 all, taking the lead.

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Takamiya Dama

October 7, Game 2, S3-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8508

In S3-0, Takamiya is still in the lead and holds a 27,500 lead over 3rd place. She wants to move the game along with reduce the risk of losing top spot. Takamiya starts off at 2-shanten with a secured red 5p. She doesn’t really have a way to open her hand unless she gets rid of her west pair and aims for tanyao. The first row provides her with a red 5s and good shapes, allowing her to get to iishanten by turn 3. However, she chose to discard her 7m pair instead of the west pair, losing out on a faster tanyao.

Across from her, Kobayashi also has a quick hand. On turn 4, he calls pon on the green dragon and gets to tenpai on a 4p kanchan (which he later switches to a 14p ryanmen)

At the end of the first row Takamiya’s hand provides her with another potential pair, allowing her to discard the wests and get tanyao without issue. In the middle of the row, she gets to tenpai on a 47s ryanmen for pinfu guaranteed and calls ron off Daisuke within the go-around. Takamiya wins with Pinfu/Tanyao/Aka 2 for 8,000.

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Results

Game 36

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