
About the UK Mahjong Association (UKMA)
The UKMA was formed in 2010, becoming the 15th country to affiliate with the European Mahjong Association (EMA). There are now 22 member countries. It was formed to facilitate the playing of mahjong tournaments according to internationally recognised rule sets, a process that began at the end of the 20th century with the establishment of the World Mahjong Organisation (WMO).
The EMA (www.mahjong-europe.org) is the guardian of the approved rules for both the Modern Competition Rules (MCR) and Riichi (RCR) formats, and oversees a Europe-wide programme of competitions throughout the year. The EMA also maintains a dynamic ranking system that reflects the relative performance of competitors in these events, taking into account the relative strength and diversity of the field for each event.
Before the pandemic-enforced lull, there were over seventy such opportunities to compete in 2019, and the UKMA has consistently sponsored an annual Open tournament for the Riichi format, as well as supporting other opportunities in the UK. The first MCR tournaments in the UK were held in 2018 and 2019, and the series resumed in 2022.
The first designated European Championship for MCR was held in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, in 2005, and the first European Riichi Championship was held in Hanover, Germany, in 2008. To date, there have been seven such Championship events for MCR and six for Riichi. The UK was proud to be nominated as the host country for the 2016 Riichi event.
Both Riichi and MCR can be practised and played online on a variety of websites that operate according to these approved rules.
The UKMA Committee

Ian Fraser
President

Peter Langford
Chairman

John Duckworth
Vice Chairman – Finance

Nick Dyer
Vice Chairman – PR

Gemma Sakamoto
General Secretary
Council Members
All UKMA-affiliated clubs also have a representative who serves on the UKMA council.
- Bristol Riichi Mahjong – Tom Pearson
- Burton Riichi Mahjong Club – Eliot Hollier
- Guildford Mahjong Club – Mike Short
- Leeds Riichi Mahjong – George Twigg