M-League Watch

In Games #25-30 of the M-League 2023-24 Semifinals, teams had one more chance to secure a spot in the semifinals. After the final hand on May 2, the four finalists were decided. Who made it through? How close was it? What crazy hands did they win to get a spot? Let’s quit it with the questions and get right into it!

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

The semifinals are just whizzing by! With this week finishing, only 6 more games remain, 4 games for each team. Time and playoff spots are limited, so strong play and strong hits are crucial. In Games #19-24 for the M-League 2023-24 Semifinals, we had a full flush, a lot of unlikely ippatsus and players winning by the skin of their teeth. We also had back-to-back mangans, multiple closed honitsu and the classic shortcut to haneman. Time is short, so let’s get right into it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

We are 18 games through the semifinals and the fierce competition continues. Five teams looking for a repeat championship and one looking for their first. In Games #13-18 of the M-League 2023-24 Semifinals, we had last-minute comebacks, big damas and a timely ura 3. We also had a hidden honitsu, a shortcut to haneman and a dealership that seemed to go on forever. This intro seems to be going on forever too, so let’s get right into it, shall we?

Mahjong Saikyousen Special Match

On May 19, Mahjong Saikyousen will be hosting an M-League Special Match featuring the 8 players who had the best score in the regular season.

• 1st vs. 3rd vs. 5th vs. 7th
• 2nd vs. 4th vs. 6th vs. 8th

The top two players from each table will advance to the next stage, then those four players will face off. The winner of that table will get a seat at the Mahjong Saikyousen.

Table A

Table B

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

We are midway through the month of April and we are solidly into the semifinals. As the pressure builds, some teams dive, some teams survive and some teams thrive. In Games #7-12 of the M-League 2023-24 Semifinal Series, we had teams diving, surviving and thriving. We also had a big baiman win, rapid-fire riichis and a win that makes M-League’s list of top 10 highest postseason scores ever! There’s a lot to get into, so let’s dive right into it shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

The M-League 2023-24 Semifinals have officially begun! 6 teams battle it out over 30 games for a coveted spot in the final series! In the first 6 games of the M-League 2023-24 Semifinals, we had a lot of movement in the standings, a lot of South 4 comeback and a player returning after being absent for over a month. We also had a headbump, a rinshan and a player who will soon be eating a lot of takeout. Let’s get started and get right into it, shall we?

Mahjong Meal Battle

On April 4th, a special tournament called the “Mahjong Meal Battle” was hosted by M-League and sponsored by “menu delivery“.

The rules were mostly the same as M-League, but four additional “menu” tiles were added to the tile set. These tiles (each with a different letter of the word “menu” written on it) would act like kita dora in sanma, where they can be set aside and are worth a dora. In addition, the number of “menu” tiles in a hand will translate to 2,000 yen menu coupons that could be won by viewers in menu’s social media campaign.

8 M-Leaguers were divided into two tables and the top player from each table would move onto the finals. After the final game played out, Kobayashi Go was the winner, earning himself 1,000,000 yen worth of menu coupons.

The matches can be watched for free on ABEMA TV.

Commentary + Interviewer Photo Cards

Starting April 16, official bromides featuring, Hiyoshi Tatsuya, Matsushima Momo, Kobayashi misa and Matsumoto Kayo will be available to print at any LAWSON print store. L size bromides will cost 300 yen and 2L size bromides will cost 500 yen.

M-League Pop-Up Shops

Over the next few months, M-League will be opening up pop-up shops in five different locations in Japan.

• Niigata: April 10 – 23
• Nagoya: May 8 – 21
• Hiroshima: June 1 – 17
• Fujisawa: July 8 – 21
• Akita: August 8 – 21

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings