HANOVER (Germany) - One year ago, Gemma Collinge - she is from the UK, but she lives in Germany actually - was in Hanover for the first time, to participate in the European Riichi Mahjong Championship 2008. At the time, she could not fulfill the great expectations some people had of her as a staff columnist of ReachMahjong.Com: she was 71st in the field of 80 players.

But today, at the First German Riichi Open, a.k.a. the Phenix Tournament, Gemma ruled - or she just was plain lucky, but anyway: she was doing just great. She won two of her four tables; one with a baiman: a winning hand, worth 8~10 fan - and in the ones which she did not win, she scored enough points to make her the winner, with a total score of 87,500.

Behind Gemma, a German couple stood on the victory stand. Michael Zaradnik was the runner-up (with 78,400 points), while his girl-friend Nadine König ended on the third place with 70,000 points. Being the best German player, Michael was also honoured as the first German Riichi Mahjong Champion.

There were 48 competitors in the Hanover Jazz Club. Just like the players, Ilka Stummeyer was very satisfied about the tournament as well as the location. So she promised the players that the second European Riichi Championship, which will  take place next year in Hanover, will also be held in the Jazz Club.

Martin Rep's Hanover Diary

Read Gemma's blog on ReachMahjong.Com