Friday (January 16)

Table A

Table B

---

Table A, Game 1

Ura San

Jaunary 16, Table A, Game 1, E3-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p11535

In E3-0, Miura is the dealer in 4th place, 23,400 behind 3rd place Matsumoto.

Miura starts out the hand at 4-shanten with two ryanmens and a connected dora 5p. In the first row, he is only able to fill in one of them, but gets to 2-shanten after drawing a pair of 4m. At the start of the second row, he fills in the other one for iishanten. Creating a 789s sequence at turn later, Miura gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a south/4m shanpon. Two turns later, Okada discards the south trying to keep iishanten and deals into Miura. With the uradora flip, Miura’s south triplet becomes the uradora and boosts him up from 2 han to 5 han. Miura wins with Riichi/Dora 1/Ura 3 for 12,000, making a bit of progress.

---

Results

Game 197

---

Table B, Game 1

Shimoishi

Jaunary 16, Table B, Game 1, E4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p11034

In E4-0, Shimoishi is in 1st place, but is only 6,200 from 4th place.

Shimoishi starts out the hand at 4-shanten with a secured red 5m. Within the first row, the sequences start forming. By the end of the first row, Shimoishi is iishanten with a ryanmen in hand. At the start of the second row, Shimoishi creates a 789p sequence and gets to tenpai on a 3s/5m shanpon. However, he has no yaku and looks for a tenpai improvement.

Across from him, dealer Nagai is iishanten for seven pairs. In the middle of the second row, Nagai pairs up the 4s dora and calls riichi on an east tanki.

During the ippatsu round, Shimoishi gets the improvement he’s looking for and calls riichi on a 36m ryanmen, wanting the 3m for mangan minimum.

After getting to a wide iishanten on her next turn, Date pushes a little. Two turns into the third row, Date gets to tenpai on an 8m tanki, a safe tile against the riichi players and can be safely discarded for an improvement.

Immediately after, Shimoishi draws the 3m and wins the hand. With an uradora hit, Shimoishi wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Iipeikou/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 3,000/6,000 plus a riichi stick.

---

Setokuma

January 16, Table B, Game 1, S3-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p10043

In S3-2, Setokuma is the dealer in 2nd place and is 11,600 behind 1st place Shimoishi. There are a lot of bonuses available with three riichi sticks and two honba in the pot.

Setokuma starts out the hand at 2-shanten and his only value is a lone red dragon dora. On turn 3, Setokuma draws a red 5m, pairing it up on his next turn to get to iishanten. However, with his awkward 67889s, he discards the 8s and goes back a step for better shapes.

While Setokuma does this reorganization, Nagai gets to tenpai first and calls riichi on a 2m kanchan, guaranteed at least a mangan.

Within the go-around, Setokuma gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 36p ryanmen. Immediately after, Nagai discards the 6p and deals into Setokuma. Setokuma wins the hand with Riichi/Ipaptsu/Pinfu/Aka 1 for 12,000+600 plus four riichi sticks, moving into 1st place.

---

Nagai

January 16, Table B, Game 1, S3-3
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s80_p2795

In S3-3, Nagai is in 4th place and is 11,000 behind 3rd place Date.

Nagai starts out the hand at 2-shanten with a triplet of easts. Unfortunately, he is neither the east player, nor is it the east round. Looking for a better way, Nagai goes back a step to try and aim for a souzu honitsu. By turn 4, he is rid of all pinzu and manzu, but still sits at 3-shanten. He is only able to add one more souzu to his collection by the end of the first row, getting him to 2-shanten.

Across from him, Shimoishi is the first to tenpai calling riichi on a 7p/9p shanpon at the end of the first row.

During the ippatus round, Nagai pairs up the white dragon and gets to iishanten. On his next turn, he draws another white dragon. Being tenpai, he waits dama on a 2s kanchan, guaranteed a mangan.

Two turns alter, Date gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 36p ryanmen.

Date has six winning tiles, Shimoishi has two and Nagai sits in the middle with three. Towards the end of the second row, Nagai decides to call a tsumogiri riichi. The timing is perfect as Shimoishi discards the 2s within the go-around and deals into Nagai. Nagai wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Honitsu/White Dragon for 12,000+900 plus two riichi sticks, pushing Nagai up to 3rd.

---

Results

Game 198

---

Table A, Game 2

Shortcut to Haneman

Jaunary 16, Table A, Game 2, E4-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p11536

In E4-0, Kazuma is in 4th place, 9,300 behind 3rd place Ooi and 12,300 behind 2nd place dealer Shibukawa.

Kazuma starts out by drawing the red 5p to make a pair, getting himself to 3-shanten for both a standard and a pairs hand. On his second turn, he draws a red 5s to make another pair. With a 2m pair on his fourth turn, he is iishanten and on turn 5, he pairs up the south and gets to tenpai. Staying dama, he waits on a 4m dora tanki for haneman.

With no players in riichi, everyone can move forward without worry. At the start of the second row, Ooi calls riichi on a 4m dora kanchan.

And right after him, Shibukawa calls riichi on a 47p ryanmen. With pinfu and two of the dora 4m in his hand, he is tenpai for mangan minimum.

With two players in riichi, Kazuma decides to call riichi as well. Though only one 4m remains in the wall, he only needs one. In the middle of the third row, Shibukawa draws and discards the 4m. Both Kazuma and Ooi call riichi, but Kazuma wins the headbump. Kazuma wins the hand with Riichi/Chiitoi/Dora 2/Aka 2 for 12,000 plus two riichi sticks, moving up to 2nd.

---

Shibukawa Sanshoku

January 16, Table A, Game 2, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p8039

In S2-0, Shibukawa is in 4th place and is 16,700 behind 3rd place Kazuma.

Shibukawa starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a tanyao lean. Shibukawa gets some impressive first few draws, getting a red 5s to complete a sequence and filling in a kanchan to get him to iishanten. In the second row, Shibukawa shifts his hand to a 456m sequence and a 7m pair. A turn later, the pair becomes a triplet and gets him to tenpai. Calling riichi, Shibukawa waits on a 47p ryanmen. With a 456m sequence and a 456s sequence. Shibukawa wants the 4p to give him sanshoku. In the third row, he draws the 4p himself and wins the hand. Shibukawa wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Sanshoku/Aka 1 for 3,000/6,000, putting him 1,700 from escaping 4th and a mangan away from 1st place.

---

Ooippatsu

January 16, Table A, Game 2, S3-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9036

In S3-0, Ooi is in 2nd place and is 1,900 behind 1st place Kayamori.

Ooi starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a dora 3p for value. Within the first four turns, he gets to 2-shanten with a good wait guaranteed.

While Ooi waits to fill in the shapes, Kazuma gets to tenpai first. With a green dragon for his yaku, he waits on a 36p ryanmen.

After creating a 567p sequence and a 678s sequence, Ooi gets to tenpai and calls riichi on a 14p ryanmen. Within the go-around, Kazuma draws and discards the 4p and deals into Ooi. Ooi wins the hand with Riichi/Pinfu/Tanyao/Dora 1 for 12,000.

---

Results

Game 199

---

Table B, Game 2

Shortcut to Haneman

Jaunary 16, Table B, Game 2, S3-2

In S3-2, Hisato is in 4th place and has a long way to go, being 19,000 behind 3rd place Uchikawa. A riichi stick sits in the pot.

Hisato starts out the hand at 2-shanten for a standard hand and 3-shanten for seven pairs. For value, Hisato has a secured red 5p. Though Hisato started out closer to a standard hand, he ends up drawing pairs on turns 2 and 3, getting him to chiitoi iishanten.

But, Hisato’s hand stalls. Also going seven pairs is Daisuke, being one-away on turn 4. In the middle of the second row, he gets to tnepai first and stays dama on an 8m dora tanki, guaranteed at least a mangan. But, none remain in the wall.

Meanwhile, Hisato has made his hand more flexible being iishanten for a standard hand as well.

At the end of the second row, 1st place Hagiwara calls a 678m sequence and gets to tenpai on a 7m kanchan. But, none remain in the wall for him either.

Right after, Hisato pairs up the 3p and calls riichi on a 6p tanki with only one left in the wall. With a dangerous riichi on the table, Hagiwara chooses to fold. Though Hisato’s chances were low, he manages to draw the 6p two turns after his riichi and wins the hand. Hisat wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Tanyao/Chiitoi/Aka 1 for 3,000+200/6,000+200 plus a riichi stick, enough to move him into 3rd place.

---

Beast

January 16, Table B, Game 2

In S4-0, Daisuke is the final dealer in 2nd place, 4,400 behind 1st place Hagiwara.

Daisuke starts out at 3-shanten with a 6p dora.The first row provides very well for Daisuke, giving him a red 5m as part of a sequence and a three-sided wait in souzu to get him iishanten. In the middle of the second row, Daisuke makes a triplet of 8p. Though it does lose him his 6p dora, it does get him tenpai. Daisuke calls riichi and waits on a 258s three-sided wait. With six left int he wall, it’s only a matter of time. It takes a long time, but Daisuke manages to get the 2s on his last draw and wins the hand. With an uradora hit, Daisuke wins the hand with Riichi/Tsumo/Aka 1/Ura 1 for 4,000 all.

---

Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p11036

In S4-1, Daisuke is 3-shanten for a standard hand and 2-shanten for seven pairs. With a red 5s as part of a ryanmen, his hand leans more to the former. But, his second turn gives him a pair of 2m, moving him back to pairs. On turn 4, he makes a 456 sequence. Put at a fork in the road, Daisuke decides to discard his 1s pair and go the standard route. This turns out to be the correct choice as he makes a 6m triplet and a 234m sequence. Being tenpai, he calls riichi on a 14m ryanmen. At the end of the row, he drawws the 1m and wins the hand. As a big surprise bonus, his 6m become sthe uradora and boosts his hand to a haneman. Daisuke wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Aka 1/Ura 3 for 6,000+100 all, raising his score to 56,600.

---

Results

Game 200

---

Intro | Standings