Tuesday (January 27)

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Game 1

4th To 1st

Jaunary 27, Game 1, S2-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p11540

In S2-0, Aikawa is in 4th place, but is 12,400 from 1st place. A haneman tsumo would be enough to flip the script.

Aikawa starts out the hand at 2-shanten with a guaranteed good wait and three ryanmens to fill. On turn 4, she creates a 69p ryanmen shape. With the 69m ryanmen and a 789s sequence in his hand, Aikawa has the potential for a 789 sanshoku. Oveer her nex two turns, she creates a 234m sequence and leaves a 6789s shape. With the two ryanmens left, she can go for a sanshoku tenpai however she gets there. At the end of the row, she draws the 9m and calls riichi on a 69p ryanmen, wanting the latter for mangan minimum. With six winning tiles left, this hand is likely to win. At the start of the third row, she draws the ideal 9p and wins the hand. Aikawa wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Sanshoku/Dora 1 for 3,000/6,000, enough to move to top spot.

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Close Game

January 27, Game 1, S4-2
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p7553

In S4-1, the scores are extremely tight. 4th place Aikawa has 24,200, while 1st place Shiratori has 25,100, just 100 above the starting score. Whoever will win this hand will be in 1st place. For everyone other than Aikawa, that win would be the game-winning hand. A riichi stick and two honba are in the pot.

Aki starts out the hand at 3-shanten with a pair of white dragons as her obvious yaku. The white dragons don’t form, but she builds the rest of her hand. By her fourth draw, she is already iishanten with a good wait. At the start of the second row, Aki gets to tenpai on a 1m/white dragon shanpon, but can only win on the white dragon by ron or any tile by tsumo. Immediately after, Shimoishi discards the white dragon and deals into Aki. Aki wins the hand with White Dragon/Dora 1 for 2,000+600 plus a riichi stick, finishing the game in 1st place.

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Results

Game 215

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Game 2

Hinata

Jaunary 27, Game 2, S1-0
Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/444-1_s5_p9038

In S1-0, Hinata is the dealer in 2nd place and is 4,100 behind 1st place Uchikawa.

Hinata starts off at 2-shanten with a decent chance at tanyao. On turn 3, Hinata gets to iishanten. Over the next two turns, Hinata creates a 678s sequence to secure iipeikou and tenpai. Hinata calls riichi and waits on a 47m ryanmen for mangan tenpai. Near the end of the second row, Hinata draws the 4m and wins the hand. Hinata wins with Riichi/Tsumo/Pinfu/Tanyao/Iipeikou for 4,000 all.

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100pts

January 27, Game 2, S4-0

In S4-0, Uchikawa is in 3rd place, 7,900 behind 2nd place Shibata and 21,000 behind 1st place Hinata. Though a haneman direct hit or a sanbaiman win would be desired for Uchikawa for 1st place, the more reasonable expectation is a mangan win for 2nd place.

Uchikawa starts out the hand at 2-shanten with two ryanmens and a connected dora 3m. He just needs a pair to confirm pinfu. In the first four turns, Uchikawa makes a 3444m shape, getting him to iishanten and guaranteeding him a good wait. It takes a bit of time to get there, but, Uchikawa gets to tenpai in the middle of the second row. He discards the red 5s and calls riichi on a 69s ryanmen. Whether it’s by ron or tsumo, or direct hit, he still needs one booster to get to 2nd place. Immediately after, Shimoishi discards the 6s trying to keep iishanten and deals into Uchikawa. With the ippatsu, he gets his booster. Uchikawa wins the hand with Riichi/Ippatsu/Pinfu/Dora 1 for 8,000, enough to finish in 2nd place by just 100.

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Results

Game 216

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