Thursday (December 25)

Table A

Table B

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Table A, Game 1

Kazuma Content

December 25, Table A, Game 1

In S2-0, Kazuma is in 1st place, but he only has a 2,500 lead.

From the beginning, Kazuma has a strong starting hand, being 2-shanten with a red 5s. On turn 3, he makes an 8p triplet and gets to one-away, still wanting to connect the red 5s. On turn 5, he draws a 4s. Creating a ryanmen, he calls riichi and waits on a 47s wait. On his very next turn, he gets the 4s and wins the hand. Kazuma wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Aka 1 for 2,000/4,000.

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Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p11533

In S3-0, Kazuma is now the dealer and blessed with a flexible 3-shanten hand with a pair of 1m dora. By turn 4, he is iishanten and has a 147p three-sided wait ready to be completed. Over the next row, he reorganizes a bit as he adds a 6s pair to his hand too. Towards the end of the second row, Kazuma makes the 1m into a triplet and calls riichi on the 147p wait. A few turns later, he draws the 7p and wins. Kazuma wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Dora 3 for 4,000 all, moving him up to 51,900 and more than double 2nd place.

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Results

Game 169

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Table B, Game 1

Honda Uras

December 25, Table B, Game 1, E1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p10035

In E1-0, Honda starts out 3-shanten with a tanyao lean. Within the first three turns, he is iishanten. However, over the next six turns, his only advancement is increasing his tile acceptance from three types to five types.

With this stall, it gives Genta time to get to tenpai first and call riichi on a 58p ryanmen.

Within the go-around, Takamiya chases with a 47m ryanmen.

When it comes back around to Honda, he makes an 8p triplet and calls riichi on a 58s ryanmen. At the start of the third row, he draws the fourth 8p (Genta’s last winning tile) and calls a concealed kan. Though his rinshan doesn’t help, he gets the 8s on his next turn and wins the hand. Hitting two uradora, Honda wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Iipeikou/Ura 2 for 3,000/6,000 plus two riichi sticks.

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Genta Going

December 25, Table B, Game 1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9532

In S3-0, Genta is the dealer in 2nd place, chasing Honda who is far ahead by 34,900.

Genta starts out the hand by filling in a kanchan to get to 3-shanten. For value, he holds the red 5m as part of a pair and has the ability to draws a 2p dora. In the first row, he pairs up the 7s for iishanten. At the start of the second row, he draws the 2p for iishanten and is just a 6p away from a pinzu start. Two turns later, he makes a triplet of 5m and calls riichi on a 36p ryanmen wanting the latter. On his ippatsu pick, he gets the 6p and wins the hand. Genta wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Ittsuu/Dora 1/Aka 1 for 6,000 all, cutting Honda’s lead down to 10,900.

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Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9533

In S3-1, Genta starts at 3-shanten with a penchan, kanchan and ryanmen. Within the first three turns, he converts the kanchan to a ryanmen and fills in the 3m penchan, shifting his mediocre hand to a good hand. By turn 5, he has added a red 5s to his hand and is at iishanten, guaranteed a good wait. On turn 7, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 69p ryannmen, wanting the 9p dora for the value. On his very next draw, he gets that perfect 9p and wins the hand. With the 3m being the uradora, Genta wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Pinfu/Dora 1/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 6,000+100 all, taking the lead.

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Results

Game 170

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Table A, Game 2

Ooi Ura Ura

December 25, Table A, Game 2, E1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9032

In E1-0, Ooi is the starting dealer and starts the game off by pairing up the 6s dora and getting to 2-shanten. Early on, Ooi focuses on efficiency, dropping a red 5p from a 578p shape and the 6s dora when he creates a 567s shape with the red 5s. Towards the end of the second row, this efficiency pays off as he gets to tenpaia nd calls riichi on a 69p ryanmen.

At the start of the third row, Ooi draws a fourth north and calls a concealed kan. Though the kandora doesn’t add value, the kan itself gives him enough fu for mangan minimum. In the middle of the row, he draws the 6p and wins the hand. Getting two uradora (with some help from the kan), Ooi wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/Dora 1/Aka 1/Ura 2 for 6,000 all.

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Katsumata Ippatsu

December 25, Table A, Game 2, E2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p7538

In E2-0, Katsumata is the dealer in a 3rd place tie and is 8,400 behind 2nd place Miura and 24,000 behind 1st place Ooi.

Katsumata starts off the hand at 3-shanten with a heavy leaning towards all simples. In his first five turns, he discards honours and terminals but only gets to 2-shanten. At the start of the second row, Katsumata gets to iishanten, then improves it by drawing a red 5p to create a 55567p shape.

As Katsumata looks for tenpai, Miura is lucky to draw the right side of a 69s ryanmen. Getting the 9s to secure a 789 sanshoku, Miura gets to tenpai and waits dama on a 47p ryanmen, guaranteed a mangan.

Two turns later, Katsumata gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 58p/7m wait. With the riichi by Katsumata, Miura decides to chase with a tsumogiri riichi. Unfortunately, it ends up being a donation as Katsumata draws the winning 8p on his very next turn. With an uradora hit, Katsumata wins with Riichi/Ippatsu/Tsumo/Tanyao/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 6,000 all plus a riichi stick, enough to move him into 1st by 1,000.

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Go Go

December 25, Table A, Game 2,
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p10537

In E4-1, Kobayashi is in 4th place and is 7,200 behind 3rd place dealer Miura. 1,300 will go to the next winner.

Kobayshi starts off at 4-shanten with a connected 4s dora. Though the hand only has two pairs and looks like it’s going the standard route, the wall has different ideas. By the end of the first row, Kobayashi has four pairs and is 2-shanten for both routes. After making pairs on turn 7 and 8, Kobayashi gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 4s dora tanki, guaranteed at least a mangan if he wins. Three turns later, Kobayashi draws the 4s and wins the hand. Kobayashi wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Chiitoi/Dora 2 for 3,000+100/6,000+100 plus a riichi stick, moving up to 3rd.

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Jumping to S3-0, Kobayashi is now the dealer in 3rd place, 5,800 behind 2nd place Miura and 7,000 behind 1st place Katsumata.

Kobayashi’s hand is primed for sequences from the start, but the 4-shanten hand has two ryanmens, a kanchan and a penchan. Within the first four turns, he secures a 2m pair and creates a 123s sequence from scratch, putting him 2-shanten. In the middle of the second row, he draws a dora 4p to create a 345p sequence and gets him to a ryanmen-ryanmen iishanten. On his very next turn, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 36m ryanmen.

Within the go-around, though, everyone gets to nice iishantens as well. At the end of the second row, Miura gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 147m three-sided wait.

And right after, Katsumata gets to tenpai on a 36p ryanmen. Guaranteed at least a haneman, he can get to a baiman if he draws the 3p. Unfortunately, that hope disappears as Ooi draws the his last winning tile within the go-around.

As things come to a close, Kobayashi still has three winning tiles and Miura has one. On the very last tile in the wall, Miura draws and discards the 6m and deals into Kobayashi. Kobayashi wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Houtei/Dora 1 for 12,000 plus a riichi stick, moving Kobayashi into 1st place.

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4th Avoidance

December 25, Table A, Game 2, S4-4

In S4-4, Ooi is in 4th place and is 9,400 behind 3rd place Miura. To escape 4th, Ooi needs a 2/50 or 3/25 direct hit, a 3/50 or 4/25 tsumo or a mangan ron. If he manages to get a 3/40 tsumo, he will end up tied for 3rd.

Ooi starts out the hand at 4-shanten with a triplet of green dragons already completed, but he needs more in order to have enough value. Ooi very quickly advances to iishanten on turn 4, making a 36p ryanmen and a red dragon pair. If the hand can stay closed and the red dragon ccan turn into a triplet, his chances at a comeback become much greater.

On his next turn, he draws a 3p for a chance to tenpai. Though this chance exists, only one red dragon and one 2p are left. With the 22345p shape, Ooi cuts the 2p and takes his chances fishing for a wider wait. On his next draw, he gets the 6p. With the three sided wait, Ooi calls riichi on the 147p wait. With tsumo, he will have that 3rd place tie.

With five left in the wall, things are looking good. After a bust of a second row, Ooi finally draws the 7p in the third row and wins the hand. Ooi wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Green Dragon for 1,300+400/2,600+400 to finish tied for 3rd place.

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Results

Game 171

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Table B, Game 2

Hisato Highlight

December 25, Table B, Game 2, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8543

In S2-0, Hisato is in 4th place, 3,400 behind 3rd place Futoshi, 12,500 behind 2nd place Hagiwara and 15,700 behind 1st place dealer Daigo.

Hisato starts off the hand draws a red 5p, but it’s not connected to anything. The first row doesn’t provide much help, only getting him to 3-shanten. At the start of the second row, Futoshi makes the first move and calls riichi on a 7s penchan.

While Hisato is only able to get to 2-shanten during the ippatsu round, the stray honours in his hand allow him to push. After making an 8p pair and filling in a 7m kanchan, Hiato gets to tenpai. Throwing the red 5p, Hisato calls riichi on a 2p/8p shanpon. On his ippatsu draw, he gets the dora 8p and wins the hand. With the 2p pair being the surprise uradora, Hisato wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Dora 3/Ura 2 for a surprising 4,000/8,000 baiman plus one riichi stick, incredibly moving Hisato into 1st place.

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Phoenix Finish

December 25, Table B, Game 2, S4-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9534

In S4-2, Daigo is 2nd place and is 11,700 behind 1st place dealer Histo. With a 3/50 or 4/25 direct hit, a mangan tsumo or a haneman ron, Daigo can finish the game on top.

Daig starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a hand that looks like it could be both pinfu and tanyao, having three ryanmens. Within the first few turns he pairs up the 6s and draws a red 5m, adding value and giving him a guaranteed good wait. On turn 5, he draws a second 7p dora. With a lot of other pairs, he adds the potential for seven pairs as well.

In the second row, Hisato discards the dora 7p and Daigo calls pon, getting him to iishanten. Guaranteed a mangan, Daigo’s main aim now is to get to tenpai and win by tsumo. With a 3p pon soon after, Daigo gets to tenpai on a 36m ryanmen. Two turns later, Daigo draws the 3m and wins the hand. Daiog wins with Tanyao/Dora 3/Aka 1 for 2,000+200/4,000+200, finishing the game in 1st place.

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Results

Game 172

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