As a member of the European Mahjong Association (EMA), the UKMA is authorised to run three Riichi tournaments each year that contribute to a players ranking in the Mahjong Europe Ranking System (MERS). The results in these MERS-rated tournaments also feed into the Mahjong UK Ranking System (MUKRS) that is used by the UKMA to help select UK players for International events. These MERS-rated tournaments are typically scheduled in the spring, summer, and autumn and include the UK Open Riichi Mahjong Championship which is held every summer.
To qualify for MERS rating, each tournament must follow the latest EMA Riichi ruleset, include a minimum of 32 competitors, and meet the minimum hanchan requirements: 4 in 1 day, 7 in 2 days or 11 in 3 days.
Each year, the UKMA invites its members to apply to host one of the UK’s official Riichi tournaments. The UKMA provides full support to approved organisers, including equipment (sets, mats, and sticks), balanced seating rotations, and access to an online scoring system. With extensive experience running tournaments, we can also offer practical advice throughout the planning process.
2026 Calendar
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9th-10th May | UK Riichi Spring Open Tournament 2026 | Cambridge |
| 1st-2nd August | 15th UK Open Riichi Mahjong Championship | Guildford |
| 24th-25th October | UK Riichi Autumn Open Tournament 2026 | Leeds |
The UKMA has previously hosted a one‑day MCR tournament on the Friday before the UK Open. Interest in this format has been low in recent years, but we hope to reintroduce it in 2027.
Club Tournaments
Local clubs also run their own tournaments, many of which welcome players from outside their membership. The UKMA is also available to provide the same support to these local tournaments. If you would like your club’s event listed here, please send us the details.