HANOVER - The best riichi mahjong player of Europe is not listed on the European Riichi Mahjong Ranking list.

This month, it is one year ago that Thomas Kragh from Denmark won the European Riichi Mahjong Championship with superior strength. But he missed all subsequent official internationally rated tournaments. As a result of this, you will look in vain for his name on the Riichi Ranking, which is headed by his fellow-countryman Kim Iversen. 

Also, he will not play in the forthcoming Phenix Tournament, the first German Open Riichi Championship, which will take place on May 23rd in Hanover.

The reason for his invisibleness: shortly after winning his riichi title, Thomas has moved to Norway. From his work address, he writes in an e-mail to Mahjong News: “I have a two year research position in Oslo at the math department of the university. And, unfortunately, during my short stays in Denmark, I have not found the time to play.”

So he not only was absent during the formal RR tournaments; also in Denmark he could not compete in the national competitions. And, he admits: “I have not yet started anything here in Norway.”

Does this mean that you will not defend your riichi title next year on the second European Riichi Championship as well?

Thomas: “I definitely plan to defend my title.” As a matter of fact, Kragh will also play in the OEMC 2009 (MCR) at Baden (Vienna), as a member of the Danish delegation. Thomas: “So I will not only try and defend my riichi title, I will also try to get the other one.”

But, he adds: “The latter is not very likely. Not even if I had trained.”