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AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands, January, 27th - There is a chance that a first world championship riichi mahjong will be held the years to come. And this might very well take place somewhere in Europe. This is stated in a report, written for the Dutch mahjong association. Picture: The Second European Mahjong Championship, Hanover, Germany, 2010. Read more…
EMA cooperates with million dollar mahjong event in Macau PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Martin Rep   
Sunday, 17 August 2008 00:29
Empress Sisi of Austria-HungaryMACAU/EDEWECHT - Otto Myslivec, the winner of this year's Sisi Cup - the combined championships of Hungry and Austria - has received a free airline ticket to Macau, China's own Las Vegas. In Macau, hotel accommodations will be paid for Mr. Myslivec. And, last but not least, he will get a free 5,000 USD entree ticket for the World Series of Mahjong 2008. For this money event, a total of 1 millon US dollar will be availabe as prize money.

The Third Hungarian Open Championship and the Third Austrian Championship are both events with a MERS qualification. That means that they are organized with approval, and even a special qualification, of the European Mahjong Association. This organisation strongly opposes playing mahjong for money. EMA president Mr. Uwe Martens points out that the decision was taken by the Hungarian and Austrian mahjong associations.

'Healthy mahjong'


EMA promotes the Mahjong Competition Rules, also known as the new Chinese official rules, the 'healthy mahjong', which has three basic principles:

  • no smoking
  • no drinking
  • no gambling.
EMA is sponsored by Mahjong Time, a internet mahjong server where people can play for free, but also for money. Until now, however, EMA always refused to promote or to cooperate with tournaments for money. Mahjong Time, however, also sponsors the World Series of Mahjong (WSoM) in Macau. For the best player in both the Hungarian and the Austrian championship, Mahjong Time has decided to sponsor one ticket for the WSoM 2008. So the combined winner of this year's Sisi Cup not only receives a simple trophy, but also an expensive stay in Macu, with the prospect of winning a large sum of money.

'No partnership'


Uwe MartensMr. Uwe Martens, president of the European Mahjong Association, sees no real problem. "EMA doesn't cooperate with money games. That's why we don't have any partnership with WSoM. The decision to accept the offer from WSoM to get a free seat and accomodation for Macau is only up to Austria and Hungary - it is not the decision of EMA. They decide what their trophies will be.

"I think this can be accepted, because it is a single event, there is no additional registration fee for the players, and it is covered by the decision of the last EMA General Assembly: that countries can decide on their own if they want to have 'trophies' that are worth more than ust some pennies."

Before the Hungarian championship, which was held at Dunaújváros, one week before the Austrian Open, organizer Mr. András Boda was worried a bit about the atmosphere which, he feared, might be affected by the large prize. But afterward, he seemed very happy. Re-assured, he told Mahjong News: 'It went like an evening in a well-balanced family... The referee was called - quietly - maybe twice to minor cases... There was no shouting, there were no red faces, no agression and no back talks."

Website of the World Series of Mahjong

Diary of Otto Myslivec in Macau

 

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