An almost exclusively home based, yet most pleasing 32 competitors participated in the first UK tournament of the year in Oxford, a one day, five round competition organised by Martin and Cressida Lester, setting the scene for a successful year of tournament activity. The event was won by Chris Endicott, with tournament debutant Russel Chan… Read More »Great Scholars Riichi Mahjong Tournament – March 2017
Cambridge in July proved to be an excellent venue for the 7th UK Open tournament which was organised by Phillip Bielby of the Cambridge Riichi Mahjong Club, one of the UK’s most successful players and Cambridge graduate. St. Andrews Hall Chesterton was a fine location for the two day tournament, Cambridge itself provided many good… Read More »7th UK Open Riichi Tournament – 2016
The 6th UK Open tournament was won by co-organiser and UKMA chairman, Peter Langford. He had shared the top two positions with Phillip Bielby, UK’s top ranked player, for several rounds, until their direct clash in Round 7, won by Peter with Phillip in second place. A narrow final round win for the new leader… Read More »6th UK Open Riichi Tournament – 2015
The 2014 UK Open Riichi Mahjong Tournament was held in the new venue of the Bourne Racquets Club near the historic market town of Farnham, 30 miles SW of London, which proved to be most suitable. An attractive playing room, a good selection of food, and most importantly a fine wine list. The Championship again… Read More »5th UK Open Riichi Tournament – 2014
With an eye to our overseas friends, the UK Open Riichi tournament in July 2013 was organised as a 2-day event of 8 rounds (MERS 2 ranking) over the weekend of 6th and 7th July in Windsor. Whilst it was not possible to arrange the royal birth to occur over that weekend, it was possible… Read More »4th UK Open Riichi Tournament -2013
The Great Scholars Riichi Mahjong Tournament was the first Riichi Mahjong tournament in Oxford. The winner was Philip Bielby. Final rankings and scores are now available. The tournament took place on Saturday 6th April 2013 at North Oxford Association, Summertown, Oxford. 24 (out of a maximum possible 48) participants played 5 hanchan according to EMA… Read More »Great Scholars Tournament
A record entry of 52 competitors from 7 different countries gathered for the 3rd UK Open Riichi Tournament in Guildford which took place in the middle of Wimbledon fortnight, and the day before the Euro2012 soccer final. France and Germany may have been eliminated from Euro2012 at the semi final stage, but these two countries,… Read More »3rd UK Open Riichi Tournament – 2012
June 2011 was clearly a month for ‘new kids on the block’. Rory McIlroy won his first golf ‘major’ – the US Open – and Steven Chowning from the Leeds University mahjong group saw off some strong competition to win his first major – the UK Riichi Open. With one round to go, Steven was… Read More »2nd UK Open Riichi Tournament – 2011
After the success of the pilot event, the inaugural UK Open was held on June 26th 2010. Supported by official recognition from the EMA, with MERS ranking points at stake, and with the assistance of publicity via Mahjong News a significantly wider participation was achieved. It was particularly pleasing that Martin Rep, editor of Mahjong News, was… Read More »1st UK Open Riichi Tournament – 2010
The first known Riichi tournament held in the UK took place in September 2009, involving members of the local groups around Guildford and a handful of specially invited guests from mainland Europe, including Tina Christiansen, Vice President of the European Association. The result was a minor embarrassment for co-organiser Peter Langford, who hadn’t even necessarily… Read More »Pilot Tournament in UK