Monday (January 12)

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Game 1

Sho Time

Jaunary 12, Game 1, E4-0

In E4-0, Shiratori is the dealer in 3rd place, 5,500 behind 2nd place Hagiwara and 7,500 behind 1st place Daigo.

Shiratori starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a secured 6s dora. The hand looks like it will go towards all simples, but it hinges on getting the right side of a 69m ryanmen. In the first row, Shiratori makes a 3p kanchan shape and a triplet of 2s, getting to iishanten but still needing to resolve the ryanmen. Towards the end of the second row, Shiratori gets the 6m to secure tanyao and calls riichi on a 3p kanchan.

To his right, Katsumata is iishanten with both tanyao and a dora 6s guaranteed. At the end of the second row, he calls a 345m chii, discards the red 5p and gets to tenpai on a 2m/6p shanpon.

Two turns later, Shiratori draws the 3p and wins the hand. Shiratori wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Dora 1 for 4,000 all, moving into the lead.

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Houtei

January 12, Game 1, E4-1
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p10039

In E4-1, Hagiwara is in 3rd place, 2,000 behind 2nd place Daigo and 10,500 behind 1st place dealer Shiratori.

Hagiwara starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a red 5p and a slight lean towards all simples. His shapes develop quite quickly in the first row, making ryanmens and sequences. By the end of the row, he is tenpai and calls riichi on a 36p ryanmen.

Across from him, Katsumata is iishanten. With few safe tiles and an opportunity to move up, he keeps pushing. In the middle of the second row, he gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 36m ryanmen.

Katsumata has three left and Hagiwara has two left, but it’s down to one each by the middle of the third row. When all seemed lost, Katsumata ends up drawing and discard the 3p as the very last tile and deals into Hagiwara. Hagiwara wins the hand with Riichi/Tanyao/Houtei/Aka 1 for 8,000+300 plus a riichi stick.

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Results

Game 189

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Game 2

Uchikawa Up

January 12, Game 2, S1-1

In S1-1, Uchikawa is in 1st place with a 5,300 lead over 2nd place Setokuma. A riichi stick and a honba are in the pot.

Uchikawa starts out with a pretty good 2-shanten hand with a connected red 5p. In the first row, he creates a 345s sequence (including the red 5s) to get to iishanten.

Across from him, Setokuma wants to make some ground. At the start of the second row, he calls a 789s chii (securing a 9s dora) and gets to tenpai on a 69p ryanmen. He is only allowed to win on the 9p.

On Uchikawa’s next turn, he doubles his tile acceptance from three types to six types, widening his chances at tenpai.

As Uchikawa continues to wait, dealer Kayamori gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 5p kanchan.

Two turns later, Uchikawa gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 47p ryanmen. The threat of two riichi calls forces Setokuma to fold. On Kayamori’s next turn, draws a fourth 6m and calls an concealed kan. With the rinshan, both she and Uchikawa get a bonus dora. However, this kan ends up backfiring as she draws the 7p as the rinshan and deals into Uchikawa. Uchikawa wins the hand with Riichi/Dora 1/Aka 2 for 8,000+300 plus two riichi sticks, taking him up to 46,000.

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Haneman

Jaunary 12, Game 2, S3-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p10040

In S3-0, Setokuma is in 2nd place and is 15,600 behind 1st place Uchikawa.

Setokuma starts out with a solid 3-shanten hand with a red 5s and two dora 8m. On turn 2, he makes a 67889m shape, a bit awkward but at least guarantees security with at least one of the dora. On turn 5, he draws a red 5m and a turn later, he draws a 4m. With a 456m sequence and a 789m sequence, things aren’t looking good to use both 8m, but at least he is iishanten with good value.

At the start of the second row, Setokuma makes a triplet of 9p and gets to tenpai. Throwing the 8m, Setokuma calls riichi and waits on a 36s ryanmen. At the end of the row, he draws the 3s and wins the hand. With the 3s also being the uradora, Setokuma wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Dora 1/Aka 2/Ura 1 for 3,000/6,000, putting him within 600 of 1st place.

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Results

Game 190

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