M-League Watch

This is it. The final day of the M-League 2023-24 Finals. At the end of Games #15-16, our champion will be crowned. Soon afterwards, that team will have the chance to lift the plate at the awards ceremony in front of hundreds of live fans, millions of fans watching online. For the last time this season, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

For this final day of M-League action, we had the classic duo of Hiyoshi Tatsuya and Tsuchida Kousho in the commentating booth.

When their introductions were finished, we were shown the excited public viewing audience watching at the Bellesalle Shiodome less than 2 kilometres away from the M-League Studio. After that, we watched the final digest then looked at the standings.

The U-Next Pirates hold a commanding lead over the 2nd place Akasaka Drivens. In order to for them to be beat, the other teams need to have some record-breaking performances. Twice.

For the 2nd place Akasaka Drivens, they also have a good lead over the other two. They will be paid well if they can maintain the position.

Between the 3rd place Kadokawa Sakura Knights and 4th place EX Furinkazan, today will be the day that decides if they get any prize money. One wrong move and they will leave empty-handed.

Intro | Game #15 | Game #16
Awards Ceremony | Final Thoughts

On the second-last day of the M-League 2023-24 Finals, in Games #13-14, sights were set. Sights were set on winning the hand, winning the game, winning the championship. We even had one hand where sights were set on yakuman! Let’s set our sights on learning more and get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

Commentating for this final Thursday is Hiyoshi Tatsuya. Helping him out is former Akasaka Drivens member Murakami Jun (村上淳).

After a review of yesterday’s action, we went to the standings.

The U-Next Pirates hold a large lead over the rest of the competition and time is running out. 2nd place, on the other hand, is easily within reach of the bottom three teams. A single win or loss can be the difference between millions of yen in prize money.

Intro | Game #13 | Game #14

Closed hands lead to riichi calls. Riichi calls lead to uradora. These uradora lead to surprise comebacks and multiplying scores. In Games #11-12 of the M-League 2023-24 Finals, these surprise uradora were the difference between winning and losing. Let’s uncover the action of today’s game and get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

Commentating for the final time this season is Matsushima Momo. Next to her doing the colour commentary is Saikouisen pro Kouno Naoya.

After taking another look at the Lawson photos, the FRGMT shirts and yesterday’s highlights, we took a gander at the standings.

After the U-Next Pirates’ daily double yesterday, they are almost 300.0pts ahead of the 2nd place EX Furinkazan. For the bottom three ranks, they are only separated by 72.6pts. A good win can put a team into 2nd place.

Intro | Game #11 | Game #12

Risk is necessary in mahjong. However, this risk must be calculated. If calculated well, one will be rewarded well. In Games #9-10 of the M-League 2023-24 Finals, these calculated risks let players win hands, avoid deal-ins and even push against a possible yakuman! I won’t risk boring you, so let’s get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

Commentating for the final time this season on this final Monday of the season is Kobayashi Misa. Doing the colour commentary is former U-Next Pirates player Asakura Koushin (朝倉康心).

After showing the Lawson photo prints that were introduced last week, we were shown more goods.

From May 13 to June 12 only, M-League will be collaborating with fashion company FRGMT. During the collab, M-League will be selling two different t-shirt designs that are only available on the online ABEMA Mart.

We then took a look at the highlights on Friday, followed by the standings going into today.

The teams are fairly close to where they started the finals at, with the exception of the Kadokawa Sakura Knights gaining 85.3pts. Still in the lead are the U-Next Pirates, though the EX Furinkazan and within a 1st away.

Intro | Game #9 | Game #10

With the completion of Games #7-8 of the M-League 2023-24 Final Series, we are halfway through the finals! With each game, each choice chosen can be the difference between winning the plate and leaving empty-handed. These important decisions lead to some of the most intense moments in M-League history. With incredible surprises awaiting to be uncovered, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

To end off the week, our commentators are Kobayashi Misa and former member of the U-Next Pirates Ishibashi Nobuhiro (石橋伸洋).

After their introductions, the two of them featured some new M-League goods available at Lawson Print stores. Along with the photos, fans can also purchase postcards, M-League photo frames and even an art canvas!

After the break, we took a look at the standings.

The Kadokawa Sakura Knights have passed the EX Furinkazan and are just one good day away from 1st place. The Drivens are also improving, being a 1st away from returning to the positives.

Intro | Game #7 | Game #8

After 32 hands and a broadcast that went 30 minutes past midnight, the 3rd day of the M-League 2023-24 Finals is finally over. In Games #5-6 of the finals, we had a lot of placement changes facilitated by limit hands and uradora. With a long overview ahead of us, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

The main commentator for the day was Hiyoshi Tatsuya. Helping out is former Konami Mahjong Fight Club player Fujisaki Satoshi. As always, we took a look at the standings after the commercial break.

The U-Next Pirates still maintain their lead, but the Kadokawa Sakura Knights are quickly approaching. Depending on the events of the day, any of the top three could be in 1st place by the end of the broadcast. The Akasaka Drivens should not be forgotten. They can both play spoiler today and they have enough time to move to the top.

Intro | Game #5 | Game #6

Efficiency is a strong factor in riichi mahjong, but sometimes pointed and specific tactical plays can be the difference in who wins and who loses a championship. In Games #3-4 of the M-League 2023-24, tactical plays were rewarded handsomely. With these little bits of genius, it let one team be the only gainers of the day. With suspense established, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

For the second day of the finals, Matsushima Momo did the main commentary. Helping out is the Shibuya Abemas’ ShoMatsu duo (Shiratori Sho (白鳥翔) and Matsumoto Yoshihiro (松本吉弘)). After a quick commercial break, we took a look at the standings.

The U-Next Pirates are still in 1st place, but are within one game of the EX Furinkazan. There is a fairly even space between the other teams, but two good games can completely remove that gap.

Intro | Game #3 | Game #4

The M-League 2023-24 Final Series has begun! In less than two weeks, after 16 games of intense action, we will have our champion. From quick games to long dealerships, we have plenty of plays to go through, so let’s get right into it, shall we?

Before the Games

Our play-by-play commentator for the first day of the finals is Hiyoshi Tatsuya. The colour commentators are Konami Mahjong Fight Club players Takizawa Kazunori (滝沢和典) and Date Arisa (伊達朱里紗).

To start things off, they showed us a summary of everything that happened in the semifinals, from scores to highlight. After the commercial break, the scores going into the finals were shown.

From the semifinals, the scores were cut in half. In close contention at the top are the U-Next Pirates and the EX Furinkazan. Just over 200.0pts away in 3rd place is the Kadokawa Sakura Knights, followed by the Akasaka Drivens.

Intro | Game #1 | Game #2

The M-League 2023-24 Finals begin on May 6! Today, we’ll take a look at which teams will be playing, how they got here and what they will need to do to succeed.

Continue reading “M-League 2023-24 Finals: The Teams”