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WEEKLY MAHJONG

By Tom Sloper
August 24, 2008
Column #378

Several upcoming tournaments... none of which I'll be able to attend, unfortunately.

American rules:

The National Mah Jongg League's 23rd International Tournament at Sea will be held aboard the Freedom Of The Seas starting Dec. 7, 2008. The cruise will sail the Western Caribbean. http://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org, click Services. For more information, call the League Office at 212-246-3052. If you go, tell NMJL president Ruth Unger hello from me.

Manhattan Mah Jongg Club founder Linda Feinstein is hosting seven days aboard the Holland America ship Westerdam. February 8-15, 2009. Cruise round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Grand Turk & Caicos Islands, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Philipsburg, St. Marteen, and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. http://www.manhattanmahjonggclub.com/mahjonggcruise.html. If you go, tell Linda Feinstein hello from me.

The American Mah-Jongg Association's "Mahj At The Taj" tournaments take place at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. $3,000 in total cash prizes. Two events upcoming: Dec. 15-17, 2008 and June 15-17, 2009. But that's not all...

Cruise to Hawaii with the American Mah-Jongg Association aboard Holland America's Zaandam. The tournament occurs during the 15-day cruise, January 6-21, 2009. Ship will visit the big island of Hawaii, Kaui, Maui, Honolulu, Hilo, and Ensenada, from San Diego. http://www.amja.net/tournaments.htm. If you go to either AMJA event, tell president Lois Madow hello from me.

World Series of Mahjong:

As reported in column 376, mahjong celebrity Jenn Barr will be attending the World Series of Mahjong, September 18-21 in Macau. On September 18th, her website, ReachMahjong.com, is sponsoring the first ever $1,000 entry WSOM Reach (Japanese riichi/dora majan) Event. The $5,000 entry Main Event offers a $1,000,000 prize. http://world-series-mahjong.com/. If you go, tell Alan Kwan and Jenn Barr hello from me.

Mahjong Competition Rules:

The 3rd Open Italian Championship will be held in Milan, Oct. 11-12, 2008. http://www.fimj.it/Campionati/Internazionale/OIC_08_info_eng.asp . You can see photos of recent events, the Hungarian and Austrian Open tournaments, at http://picasaweb.google.com/marco.milandri . If you go, tell Federazione Italiano Mah-Jongg board member Marco Milandri "ciao" for me. You're sure to meet many of my European mahjong friends there.

Explore the wonderful world of mah-jongg!

麻雀

Click the entries in the header frame, above, to read other columns.

Tom Sloper is quoted in the Boston Globe today! http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/24/mah_jongg_madness/.

Question or comment about this column? Email and the discussion will be posted on the Mah-Jongg Q&A Bulletin Board.

Haven't ordered the 2008 NMJL card yet? Read FAQ 7i.

Need rules for American mah-jongg? Tom Sloper's book, The Red Dragon & The West Wind, is the most comprehensive book in existence about the American game. AND see FAQ 19 for fine points of the American rules (and commonly misunderstood rules). AND get the official rulebook from the NMJL (see FAQ 3).

Watch the video by Jay Firestone of the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, about a young man (himself) learning to play American mah-jongg. You can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob5acSxD6PE.