SAN DIEGO - ‘We still hope for a solution.’ Slava Novozhenya, president of the internet mahjong webserver MahjongTime (MJT), is not convinced that the break-up between his company and the European Mahjong Association (EMA) will be final.

Earlier today, MahjongNews published an article with details about the problems that have arisen between EMA and MJT. This was based on information of MahjongTime. EMA, by way of its president Mr. Robert Rijnders, reacted on it.

Mr. Novozhenya, however, regrets that all the information has come into the spotlight of publicity, and has asked MahjongNews to withdraw the article. MahjongNews has decided to do so, since it wants to contribute to a possible solution, in the interest of those involved in the conflict, and, eventually, the international mahjong world.

Sponsor contract

The problems between MahjongTime and the European Mahjong Association occurred in the course of this year, during negotiations about the sponsor contract for the World Mahjong Championship 2010, which is being organized by the Dutch mahjong league, in cooperation with the EMA (which, by the way, both are presided by the same person: Robert Rijnders).

Two months ago, the negotiations were suspended. Since then, there has been hardly, if any, contact between EMA and MJT. Until, last week, MahjongTime unexpectedly cancelled the German Online Open Championship, due to ‘technical problems’. Since there had been no communication about the topic with EMA, both EMA, as the Dutch and the German mahjong associations cancelled the partnership with MahjongTime.

This partnership implied, amongst other things, that EMA acknowledges the online mahjong tournaments that are organized by MahjongTime as well as the online rankings (‘MORSE’).

‘Fully operational’

Slava Novozhenya denies that MahjongTime should be in problems, as was supposed by EMA-president Mr. Rijnders, who presumed that MJT might be broke. Slava: “The site is fully operational, and we are due to release the new software that will greatly enhance player’s gaming experience. The gameplay will be much faster and the animation smoother. The new version will also feature an enhanced rewards system and a greatly improved avatar shop.”

Slava hopes for a way out of the problems. “Intermediation should work”, he tells MahjongNews. “I am okay to contact, or be contacted, by someone who is willing to resolve this.”