Mahjong Marathon: a fight to the finish

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Created on Sunday, 30 November 2008 18:06

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 18:00

Written by Calberson Huynh

PARIS - A mahjong tournament that lasts for 24 hours, with players in teams of two, each taking turns. This was the idea behind the first Mahjong Marathon, which was held last weekend in the French capital Paris.
The teams could determine themselves how long each player could play - as long as he, or she would play for two hours or a multiple of this in one go.The players of a team not having made the same time of game were penalized by 50 points per hour of difference. So, if player 1 plays for 10 hours and player 2 plays for 14 hours, there are 4 hours of difference, which means 200 penalty points for the team. Sixteen mahjong players accepted the challenge.
Organizer Calberson Huynh reports about the event.
"All players are there : Annabel and Corinne Di Domenico from Gabon, and 14 mad French. No one is missing, but yet all are afraid to begin this crazy mahjong marathon.
"The first rounds starts, and the first relay players enjoy these moments. Their teammates are waiting for their turn by playing mahjong, making their beds, gaming, looking animes, reading... Turn after turn, people are switching tables and places (with only a few minutes break).
"We can see tiredness on the people faces. Some minds are out and we can see the first wrong mahjongs and dead hands.Team tactics are different. Some of them choose to play 4 hours, 6 hours or even 8 hours straight.
"At this game, the team Nathalie Mahé and Lionel Legaie is the best and takes up to 600 mahjong points lead. The other teams try to beat them in vain. Nathalie en Lionel finish with more than 100 points before the competition and win the weekend "Thalassoleil" at Villeneuve-Loubet (near Nice) and 2 bottles of "Champagne J. Charpentier".
"Olivier Boivin and Simon Fongue are second, Etienne Delessard and Joël Ratsimandresy third. They receive chocolate from "Maxim's de Paris". All players receive a '24 hours Mahjong Anime', towel made by Annabel Di Domenico. So many thanks to her, Corinne Di Domenico and everyone for making this marathon come true.
"This was the first Mahjong Anime tournament and the first mahjong marathon in France. All players were really happy to have done it and they're only thinking on one thing: playing mahjong! I'm joking... just sleeping. We will try to do it again next year so stay tuned if you want to be a part of it."