Results from Open Danish Riichi Championship 2024 and Vienna Riichi Open 2024, including interviews with the winners. A new story from Mr. Sato: "The Path to Kokushi Musou."
The Vienna Riichi Open 2024! Let’s see how it was!
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In the next episode, we'll bring you the full tournament video. For now, enjoy these brief interviews with the tournament winner, Grant Mahoney, and Krzysztof Dabrowski, who achieved his first real-life Yakuman with Kokushi and also Sankantsu.
The Path to Kokushi Musou
The "House of Tiles" was alive with the familiar sounds of rattling tiles and hushed voices. Tonight, the air carried an extra sense of anticipation as Kenji took his seat opposite Mr. Sato. Kenji’s eyes sparkled with determination; he was ready to take on one of the most daunting challenges in Riichi Mahjong: Kokushi Musou, the "Peerless King." This elusive hand demanded thirteen different terminal and honor tiles, with a pair of any one of them to complete the set.
As the game unfolded, Kenji began to gather the scattered pieces of his dream—1 of Manzu, 9 of Souzu, East Wind, Green Dragon... His heart quickened with every new tile that fit the pattern. But just as quickly as hope blossomed, it began to wither. The tiles he needed seemed to dry up, leaving his hand in a state of disarray.
Kenji’s frustration grew, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. Finally, he voiced his thoughts. “Mr. Sato, I have so many different tiles, yet it feels like I’m just chasing shadows. Is there truly a way to bring all these wandering pieces together?”
Mr. Sato, ever calm and composed, leaned back in his chair. "Kokushi Musou," he began, his voice like a distant echo, "is not just a hand—it is a journey. Imagine that you are trying to gather the scattered fragments of a legend, each tile a piece of a story long forgotten. The 1s and 9s are like ancient relics, and the dragons and winds are the whispers of an old tale. To complete Kokushi is to weave these fragments into a whole. But remember, some stories resist being told."
Kenji’s eyes widened with realization. He had been trying to force the tiles into his hand, without truly understanding the nature of Kokushi Musou. “So… I must be patient and let the story come to me?”
Mr. Sato nodded. “Indeed. Each tile has its own path to your hand, and you must learn to read the flow of the game. Sometimes, you will find yourself with twelve pieces, on the brink of completion, only to see the last tile escape your grasp. But even then, there is beauty in reaching for the impossible.”
Kenji glanced at his tiles again, noticing a new possibility. His hand wasn’t quite ready, but it was close—close enough that he could feel the tension of being just one step away. He decided to trust the flow and released a tile, letting the game guide him.
With each draw, Kenji's heart pounded louder. As if by fate, the final tile he needed came into his hand: a lone White Dragon, filling the last missing piece. His Kokushi Musou was complete.
Mr. Sato smiled gently. “You see, Kenji, Kokushi is a hand that cannot be forced. It is something you must embrace as it unfolds. The tiles come together like stars aligning, and only when they are all in place does the true picture emerge. When chasing Kokushi, you are not simply playing a game—you are seeking to bring order to chaos, to write the ending of a story that has long remained unfinished.”
Kenji understood now. Kokushi Musou was not just about collecting rare tiles; it was about embracing the journey, enduring setbacks, and finding balance amid the chaos. That night, as he held his winning hand, Kenji felt not just the thrill of victory, but the quiet satisfaction of having reached for something greater than the game itself.
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The 1000-point betting in Riichi Mahjong, also known as the "Riichi bet," is a symbolic amount that adds a strategic layer to the game rather than being a significant portion of a player's total points. Here's why the 1000-point amount was chosen:
Tradition and Game Balance: The 1000-point bet has been a traditional part of the Riichi rules for many years. It’s a relatively small amount compared to typical hand scores, allowing players to take a risk without losing too much if they don't win. This helps maintain game balance while encouraging players to declare Riichi.
Encouraging Risk-Taking: The amount is significant enough to incentivize players to go for Riichi, making the game more dynamic and exciting. It introduces a calculated risk, as players have to decide whether it’s worth betting 1000 points for a chance to win.
Prize Pool Mechanism: The 1000 points placed on the table by a Riichi declarer become part of a "pot" that can be claimed by the winner. If multiple players declare Riichi during a hand, the pot grows, increasing the reward for winning the round.
Historical Influence: The amount could also be influenced by the origins of scoring in Japanese Mahjong, where smaller point denominations were used to reflect more accessible gameplay while still adding a layer of risk and reward.
The video of selecting the winner using random.org
With love from the editor and correspondent, Anastasiia Veremenko. Twitter
The Riichi Mahjong Times Biweekly Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
