Stefania from Florence likes the challenge of the ‘new mahjong’
- Details
- Created on Thursday, 07 July 2011 22:20
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 18:00
- Written by Martin Rep
Stefania Gori is the player who will guide you through the OEMC2011. Mahjong News choose this girl from the Florence mahjong club ‘Six Balls’. She will give you daily updtaes. Today: who is Stefanie Gori anyway?
After the introduction ceremony of the OEMC2011 Stefani Gori looks a bit tired. Yet, she grabs a prosecco in the bar of the Laguna Palace Hotel (‘I should not drink too much, tomorrow is the start of the tournament’) and starts telling about herself.
“I live in a little village between Florence and Arezzo. Wit two or three from our village we drive all the way to Florence for our weekly mahjong night. It’s almost one hour, but we love the game so that’s no real problem.
“This club is called Six Balls, because in the coat of arms of the old Florentine family Di Medici you could recognize the tile of Six Balls. If you are a mahjong player, that is; I do not think the Di Medici actually played mahjong!
“We mostly play on Friday night or Saturday night. We start at 9:30 and we play until 1:30. Yes, that is quite late, and then we have to drive home again. It is lucky these mahjong nights take place in the weekend! The club has some twenty members, but most of the time twelve to sixteen players are present.
“I started to play mahjong about twenty years ago, but then I stopped. Some years ago, we met some nice people in Florence who played mahjong so we decided to pick up the game again.“First, we played in the house of an old lady, called Anna Maria. She was a very lovely and sweet person. Later on, we moved to a hotel to play. But, still, each year, we organize the Anna Maria Memorial Tournament. In fact, it now has become an official Italian qualification tournament. We invite many players and it is very special.”
Contacts
After some time, Stefania switched from the Italian rules to the new Mahjong Competition Rules. “Someone came up with these new rules and it did not take long before we all liked them.“The great thing about it is the international contacts. It is really a new challenge!”
The OEMC2011 is not Stefania’s first tournament: she also played at Baden two years ago. “I also tried to qualify for the world championship in Holland last year, but I did not succeed. Qualifying for this tournament was easy. A lot of Italian players are in the tournament. Maybe too many.
”And what are your expectations, Stefania?She sighs. “Perhaps… well, if I make it to the top-twenty, I would be very, very happy. In the Italian MCR championship in Milan I ended somewhere in the middle, but in the last Anna Maria Tournament in Florence I was number 7. But okay, that was our home game. I was more relaxed. Less emotional. This is more difficult. I have to count in English, so I am afraid a bit that I will miss some points.
“We will see.”
Maybe not for the OEMC referees, but Mahjong News sure needs to do some investigation.
I don't know why Rui Manuel Machado and Ombretta Tassinari didn't show up, and it seems the article's author didn't know either.
It's unbelievable that a newspaper shows only one point of view without the opinions of the concerned parties, while lacking to present essential fact like why did the players have not shown up.
Excuse me Adrie if I seem aggressive, I understand your griefs, but it looks like you didn't know what you're talking about.
As I said on the first morning, I had come to win, and I did. I was very strong, because I wanted to win for my country, for my association and for my club. I really felt the love from everybody, and that helped me a lot!
It was lovely to play with you all!
Thank you!
Thanks to the Organizing Committee for a great and well planned tournament.
Last of all: Thanks to all of the players, for respecting the referees and making it a joyful experience to judge.