MURCIA/PARIS - The organizers of the Spanish Mahjong Open in Murcia had many problems because of players not arriving, due to the European air traffic coming to a standstill; yet, last weekend’s tournament was a great success. Six players who wanted to come to Spain by plan did not show up. Just like thousands other travelers, their flight was cancelled because of the ash cloud caused by the Iceland volcano Eyjafjallajökull.

But Dutch player Anton Kösters from France - he ended on the third place in the tournament, after winner Nathalie Mahé and Thierry Bourgeois from France - reports from Murcia: ‘The organizers did a great job. Only, for me and a number of other players, now the long waiting has begun. How do we get away? Oh well, there are worse places to spend some more days of mahjong.”

According to Anton, two players were not able to reach Murcia, besides some cancellations.

Paris

At the same time in Paris, Laurent Mahé of the French mahjong federation is quite worried. The coming weekend, the French championship will take place, and until now it is impossible to say when the French airspace will be opened again for airliners.

Laurent: ‘I hope all players will be able to make it to Paris. Unfortunately, I can't give any advice. But you can be sure that we have a very flexible organization and that we will manage it, also if a number of players have to cancel their subscriptions.”

Some French players, says Laurent, could not go to Murcia due to the volcano dust. “But some of them had left timely and arrived safely in Murcia.” Laurent is quite happy, though, since his sister Nathalie won the Spanish tournament.

In Murcia, organizer Carlos Sanches Martin had hardly time to talk with Mahjong News: "These days have been very hectic for us. We have had some problems due to the vulcano ash. Six players could not reach Spain."

Belgium

The organisers of the Belgian Open (May 8~9 at Temse) are not worried yet. "We have one subscription from Austria, we do not know if Alexander Doppelhofer plans to come by plane. Well, we have still three weeks to go, so we hope that by then the problems will be over."

Alexander Doppelhofer, who has booked a flight to Belgium indeed: "I do hope so. On the other hand - volcanos are incalculable." 

Tournament

36 players competed in the tournament. The last round was a final, where the  players were grouped according to their position in the classification.