{"id":393,"date":"2021-10-14T13:41:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T13:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demosites.io\/neve-3\/?page_id=393"},"modified":"2025-07-26T08:39:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T08:39:09","slug":"7b3c2-about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ukmahjong.co.uk\/index.php\/7b3c2-about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

About the UK Mahjong Association (UKMA)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The UKMA was formed in 2010, becoming the 15th<\/sup>\u00a0country to affiliate with the European Mahjong Association (EMA). \u00a0There are now 22 member countries.\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. \u00a0The 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. \u00a0The first MCR tournaments in the UK were held in 2018 and 2019, and the series resumed in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.\u00a0 To date, there have been seven such Championship events for MCR and six for Riichi.\u00a0\u00a0 The UK was proud to be nominated as the host country for the 2016 Riichi event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Riichi and MCR can be practised and played online on a variety of websites that operate according to these approved rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The UKMA Committee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Ian Fraser<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

President<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Peter Langford<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Chairman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
John Duckworth<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Vice Chairman – Finance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Nick Dyer<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Vice Chairman – PR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Gemma Sakamoto<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

General Secretary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Council Members<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All UKMA-affiliated clubs also have a representative who serves on the UKMA council. <\/p>\n\n\n\n