The Riichi Mahjong Times. Last episode

Bye-bye and prizes

May 23, 2025

This is going to be the last episode — at least for now.
Sorry, I disappeared. Honestly, I’ve been going through a strange time in my life.
And sadly, mahjong doesn’t bring me the same joy anymore.

It’s been a wonderful five-year journey.
My 2nd place at the ERMC will probably remain my proudest moment.

I'm leaving at the peak of my career 😂

What happened? I think I had unrealistic expectations.
For European players, mahjong is — at least right now — just a very expensive hobby.

It doesn’t feel like a sport.
And I just couldn’t keep justifying the costs — tournaments, accommodation, flights, days off work… all for what?

After the ERMC, I was ranked #1 in Ukraine, which meant I could attend the WRC in Tokyo. But it was just too expensive, so I had to let it go.

Then came the WRL online tournament — I won, and earned a WRC seat again. But the money problem didn’t disappear, of course.

I held on to a little hope of finding sponsors, but then WRC said no logos on shirts, no promo, nothing.

So, there weren’t any real options left. And that hurt a bit.

That’s the story. I’ve decided to put my time and energy into something else — something where I don’t spend every weekend locked in a room at a table.

I’ll still play from time to time — when all the stars align 😉 Like the Porto tournament! ✨

After all, I met my partner through mahjong — so it will always have a special place in my heart. ❤️

I want to thank everyone I met along the way. You made this journey truly special.

Wishing you all tons of yakumans — especially to those going to the WRC. Show them what we’ve got!

See you soon ❤️