Sichuan: Majestic Trip to the Land of Pandas

CHENGDU, China — When I and mahjong enthusiast Matthew Shim from the USA (he is running www.mahjongtiles.com, Mahjong Tile Replacements & Museum) were invited by the MIL to China, we had no idea what would it be about. Presentations, opening ceremony, playing a new mahjong style in a real tournament; all that comes from a mahjong type of a trip. From the cultural prospective we enjoyed pandas in their natural environment, a face-changing Sichuan opera, and very spicy local food.

Vitalii Novikov releases Global Mahjong Survey Report Sichuan Bloody Mahjong Grand-Prix

According to research conducted by the MIL from both online game platforms and from offline questionnaires at thirty-five Chinese cities, Sichuan Bloody Mahjong is the top mahjong style in China. That “opportunity window” has been perfectly matched by MIL by offerring Sichuan Bloody Rules Grand-Prix — twenty independent tournament days during a two month period followed by the finals on November 4-6, 2016.

Bloody mahjong refers to the fact that the game does not end when one player declares mahjong, but instead the game continues until three players have declared mahjong and only one player remains as the ultimate loser.

Sichuan Bloody Rules

Sichuan Bloody Rules (SBR) are a bit unusual for two main reasons: there are only 108 tiles in play (three full suits), and a deal is played until three players have declared mahjong (unless the wall is exhausted). With only 108 tiles in play, the walls counts only 13 or 14 tiles in a row instead of 18, yet the game is still played on a standard sized table. Playing with so few tiles, it’s common for the size of the tiles to be even larger, in fact really huge, literally like bricks.

Basic rules are relatively simple though their “competitiveness potential” is the key to understanding SBR. This rule set may be good as a quick game alternative or even as a starter for complete beginners, perhaps.

Both Matthew and I learned how to play only one day before the tournament from MIL staff and its chief referree.

Tournament Play

There were five playing sessions per day, with the player’s total score being

compounded from their best of four results. Being an open tournament, anybody

could play, so seating was determined by drawing lots.

Matthew drew his lot.

The game itself was very unusual, though some general ideas of completing a hand helped.

 Fans rooting for the foreigner playing their native rules.

The whole event was perfectly organised by the MIL staff, and was supported by team of referrees.

Special thanks to Mr. Li Wenlong, General Secretary of Mahjong International League.

That was majestic trip to the land where the pandas live (and mahjong is played).