ALMERE - Jaap Croeze today has won the Dutch 'Kinryu Majan Taikai' tournament (riichi mahjong). Runner-up was Gerda van Oorschot, third place was for Gemma Collinge (United Kingdom). Désirée Heemskerk was honoured with the challenge trophy of the Dutch Champion Riichi Mahjong, since she had the best accumulated results in the two 2009 Dutch riichi mahjong tournaments.

Just like last year, there were 48 participants; about the same number of players in the Cherry Blossom Tournament, which makes the Netherlands the European country with the largest contingent of riichi players. Organizer Robert Rijnders greeted a number of foreign players, esp. three players from the United Kingdom. Amongst them ‘riichi babe’ Gemma Collinge (of ReachMahjong.Com), who was not only the number 3 player in the final classification, but also number 4 in the Open Dutch Championship. Two other players from the UK were Peter Langford and Ian Fraser, the organizers of the recent UK Inivitational at Guildford. Peter told MahjongNews that the first official international tournament on British soil, the Open UK Riichi Mahjong Championship, most likely will take place on June 26th, 2010.

The international mahjong scene also witnessed the come-back of Tom Mustonen from Finland. After his bad results in this year's Cherry Blossom Tournament, Tom decided to quit riichi mahjong. But, of course, after some months he regretted. So he picked up the game again. At Almere, he did quite well and he reached to the 10th place in the final ranking. He might even resume his duties as a moderator of ReachMahjong.Com. Only the Danes, who are considered the best riichi players of Europe, never seem to bother to come to Holland. 

There were also the 'usual supects'  from Germany. Ilka Stummeyer was not as lucky as she was at Guildford. And Sebastian Scharpf was just plain unlucky: it seemed as if each tile he discarded, had a magical atrraction on each waiting hand.

Wolfgang Franke looked quite happy. In his inn,  café Kaiser in Hanover, each week mahjong is played. "But, until now, hardly riichi mahjong", he admitted. "Perhaps it is confusing if people play MCR and riichi at the same time. Maybe it is time for a special riichi night."

Next year, Hanover will be Europe's riichi mahjong town number 1 again, since the local Jazz Club will be the venue of the Second Open European Riichi Mahjong Championship. Organizers Björn Schulz and Ilka Stummeryer: "Until now, we do not have much to tell about the Meisterschaft. But, be convinced that, most likely, we will have three top referees."

And how about sponsoring?

Ilka and Björn: 'Wie immer, ein Problem."

The only French competitor, Sébastion Berret from Paris, left almost immediately after the last gong. He wanted to be back in Paris that same night. He was not exactly curious about the final results. “Riichi does not like me”, he said, cryptically. 

Sebastian ended on position # 37, with minus 38,500 points.