M-League Watch

This was the lineup for final game of the M-League 2022-23 season, Game #188. This game also marked the 1000th game of M-League, almost half a decade of riichi calling and tile slinging. In this game and all the games on Monday and Tuesday, players had one last chance to win awards and get their teams into a good spot in the semifinals. From desperately trying to be tenpai to unbelievable uradora to a passed ron, there was a lot of action in the past 48 hours! Let’s get right into it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

We nearing the end of the regular season. With Friday’s games over, there are only four more games left in the regular season. 8 teams entered, only 6 teams can advance. In the 23rd week of the M-League 2022-23 season, we saw teams fighting for position and players trying to top the individual standings. This week, we saw multiple quick riichi calls, a player fighting against a three-sided wait and a timely haitei. We also saw some uncommon yaku, a big 4th to 1st comeback and the most intense MVP battle yet! With a lot to see, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Noodles!

On March 23, 2023 starting at 19:00 JST, another match sponsored by Nissin Foods will be taking place. After the Noodle Noodle Deciding Match and the Mahjong Alien vs. Earth Defenders, the Noodle Meal Deciding Match will have Ooi Takaharu, Kayamori Sayaka, Sasaki Hisato and Murakami Jun facing off against each other to see which noodles are the best.

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

The 22nd week of the M-League 2022-23 season marks the penultimate full week of the regular season. Players are punching to put their pals in playoff position. These passionate pros push to place in prime positions. As time ticks, desperation deepens and emotions are expressed. This week, we had a hand quadrupled by sticks, yakuman tenpais and riichi roulettes. We also had a furiten ippatsu, upward drives and the greatest headbump of all time. With little time left, let’s get right into it, shall we?

Intro | Highlights | Results | Standings

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