M-League Watch

We are in the final month of the regular season. Playoff positions and awards are on the line. But no matter how much pressure is put on each player, they just keep pushing and march forward. In the 21st week of the M-League 2022-23 season, player went ahead with positivity and hoped for the best. This week, we had a lot of late tenpai hand winning, surprise uradora and some double trouble. We also had some strong targeting, six wins in a row and a third rare event in as many weeks! With a lot to go over, let’s get right to it, shall we?

Playoffs are Approaching

In an news release published on March 1, M-League released the schedule for the semifinals and the finals. The 30-game semifinals will take place from April 10 – May 4 and the 16-game finals will take place from May 8 – May 19.

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

Common yaku are seen so often. Players call riichi multiple times a game, pinfu and tanyao are almost expected every hand. However, when someone tries to go for something bolder, something that few players would pursue, we sit at the edge of our seats to see if they will succeed. In the 20th week of M-League 2022-23, we saw multiple players going for something rare. The master of rare yaku getting yet another, multiple limit hands one after another and a rare event from last week was seen once again this week! Also this week, we saw a crazy starting hand, an underdog win and more ura madness. With a lot to see, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

Wide, complex waits are nice and can increase one’s chances of winning. Open-ended ryanmens and multiple-sided flush hand can pay off in fast wins. But sometimes, all you need is just one tile. A pair wait that can change the game drastically. In the 19th week of the M-League 2022-23 season, we bore witness to one such tanki. Also this week, we saw a two-hand comeback, a lot of calls and an event unseen in over a year. We have far more than just one thing to get into, so let’s get right into it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

Sometimes you fall behind early on. Sometimes a player calls an early riichi. Sometimes you are sitting outside of a playoff spot. But that’s when the excitement begins. The adrenaline rush of going after something just within your grasp. The pursuit riichi to throw your hat into the ring. The chase. In the 18th week of M-League 2022-23, we had a lot of chasing. From riichi calls to 4th place comebacks to yakuman chances to rare yaku to teams fighting their way out of the hole, we saw it all. Also this week, we saw shortcuts to haneman, last tile wins and 1sts unseen in over a year! With a lot of get into, let’s chase after it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

It is early February and we turn on our computers to watch M-League. As we see the dim studio lights casting shadows on the automatic table, we knew that there is just over 6 more weeks of the M-League regular season. In the 17th week of the M-league 2022-23 season, we saw many predictions that ended up paying off. From correct waits to timing the riichi perfectly, players moved up in the rankings and ended up getting their first wins in months. Also this week, we saw back-to-back hanemans, a chinitsu battle and a 1 han hand worth 6 times its value. With a lot get into, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

Last week, a documentary was released that highlighted the connection between physical exercise (such as running) and better performance in mind sports. In the 16th week of M-League 2022-23, we saw what running looks like at the mahjong table. Multi-game winning streaks. Steady and consistent wins eventually leading to 1st place. Endurance games lasting over two hours. Using your opponents to your advantage. A last-minute sprint to the finish. We also had a quick dealer haneman, a cool furiten rinshan and a big 4th to 1st comeback! With a lot of ground to cover, let’s start running, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

Baimans. Dealer hanemans. Ura 3. An ankou of dora. Thse are the hands we live to see. In the 15th week of M-League 2022-23, we were treated to such a spectacle. This week, we saw three baimans, big ura draws and four limit hands in a row. We also saw big gambles, big comebacks and very close games in South 4. With a lot to get into, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

When you’re living on your knees, you rise up. In the 14th week of M-league 2022-23, players who were down got back on their feet and fought back. Whenever they got hit with a big hand, they would get one themselves. Whenever they were in 4th place, they were fighting even harder and getting big comebacks. When the scores were close, they were aggressive and it paid off. Also this week, we had a cool haitei, a furiten riichi and a yakuman chance! With so much to cover, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Ametalk!

#アメトーーク「プロ麻雀 #Mリーグ芸人」
今夜11時15分より放送🀄️
お楽しみに！#Mリーグ はABEMAで📺
今夜の対局生中継▷ https://t.co/GoQwt40cIO
過去対局を無料で▷ https://t.co/WP2958MZQU #アメトーク #この熱狂を外へ https://t.co/nw9Rgxi3iZ

— Mリーグ/プロ麻雀リーグ (@m_league_) January 12, 2023

On January 12, M-League was featured on the Japanese comedy talk show “Ametalk!”. Along with the panel talking about the show, one of the panel members got to play a hand against Ooi Takaharu, Sasaki Hisato and Okada Sayaka with Hiyoshi Tatsuya commentating it.

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

The new year is a time when people make changes in their life, usually a small change that they can carry through the rest of the year. However, in the 13th week of M-League 2022-23, the first week of 2023, big wins and changes in the standings were dominating the new year. This week, we had yakuman chances, dora bombs and huge comebacks. We also had close games, underdog wins and a new league leader! With a lot to go through, let’s get right into it, shall we?

New Year, New Life

On January 1, 2023, Murakami Jun of the Akasaka Drivens got married! On behalf of the M-League Watch team, congratulations to Murakami!

新年明けましておめでとうございます！！私事で恐縮ですが、1月1日の本日かねてからお付き合いしていた方と入籍いたしました。これからも変わらず精一杯頑張りますので、村上淳およびドリブンズをあたたかく見守っていてください。2023年もよろしくお願いいたします！！ pic.twitter.com/8nSDKTqdXm

— 村上 淳 (@zunzuntantan) January 1, 2023

Premium Night

On January 6, 2023, Official M-League supporters had the opportunity to buy tickets and attend the M-League Premium Night at EX Theatre Roppongi. Fans filled the theatre to watch and cheer on their favourite team together. Merchandise and goods were also sold at the venue.

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

We’re just past the halfway point of the season and the fight for the top is getting hot! Today, we’ll look at the progress of each team and what they need to do going forward to succeed.

Continue reading “M-League 2022-23: Mid-Season Review”