36 players came together from all over the US and Canada to play in Rochester’s yearly event! Making it into the Top 4, Saikouisen USA Pro Mahjong’s Allan Yang quickly took the lead with a dealer baiman, and held that advantage to the bitter end! We sat down with him for a short interview after the event.
How was the event?
“The event was very fun! This is my first tournament since joining Saikouisen and it’s not often that you get to play so much serious Mahjong with so many strong players in person. Thanks to the Rochester Nine Gate Mahjong Club for hosting and organizing the event! As a college student it is difficult for me to travel to tournaments, so I appreciate the local events.”
What strategies did you use to win?
“I play pretty defensively, especially against players that I know are strong. I only play aggressive when I have either a very fast hand or mangan and above hand. Winning one or two of these hands can create a lead that makes it hard for other players to catch up forcing them to play for second. Also, after the first three rounds I also start watching to see if there’s player ranked above me at my table and play aggressively into them and try to stop them from getting a bigger lead.”
Can you tell us more about your activities with Saikouisen?
“Joining SPM has definitely improved me as a Mahjong player. First, simply studying for and passing the pro exam helped me in many aspects especially all last conditions. Second, since joining SPM I had more chances to play with other pro players who have their own play styles, exposing me to those kinds styles. Understanding their reasoning has led to changes in my own play style compared to before joining SPM. Lastly, I was also introduced to paifu training after joining the organization and being able to see how other players make their decisions and the pros and cons that they are weighing also had a impact on my own decision making.”
Awesome! Thanks for the interview, and congratulations again!
— Tournament results below —
Final Standings (Top 4 scores: Final / Scramble)
1 Allan Y +64.8 / +102.6
2 Rizeng Z +29.3 / +117.0
3 Estey G +0.2 / +136.7
4 Yishen W -94.3 / +113.5
5 Yichi X +102.1
6 Jenny W +83.3
7 Andrew T +74.8
8 Mark T +74.5
9 Edward Z +72.9
10 Jackson J +61.1
11 Brian T +45.9
12 Binyi Z +42.8
13 Kaden C +27.9
14 Yicheng Z +26.1
15 Michael D +21.1
16 Kevin X +18.5
17 Quincy H +15.3
18 Jonathan F +12.3
19 Allen Z +11.4
20 Paul C +10.0
21 Mike G +9.9
22 Sam F -11.6
23 Aaron E -12.5
24 Kristy C -16.6
25 Steve A -28.3
26 Jeff T -84.9
27 Xiao Z -86.6
28 Jim Y -94.5
29 Cooper W -97.3
30 Ty K -107.3
31 Josh H -110.1
32 Peter D -113.3
33 Melissa F -113.3
34 Cassandra N -123.2
35 Doris C -152.2
36 Takeshi T -154.0
===========================
Final Results by Table
Game 1
Name Score
Estey G 13.7
Rizeng Z -14.8
Yishen W -48.9
Allan Y 50.0
Game 2
Name Score
Estey G -13.5
Rizeng Z 44.1
Yishen W -45.4
Allan Y 14.8
Scramble Results by Table
Round 1 Points Entry
Table 1
Player # Name Score
36 Yichi X 34.6
12 Edward Z 14.2
35 Yicheng Z -37.1
31 Steve A -11.7
Table 2
Player # Name Score
5 Andrew T 46.0
15 Jeff T -47.7
18 Jonathan F 13.6
4 Allen Z -11.9
Table 3
Player # Name Score
3 Allan Y 3.0
10 Cooper W -17.5
17 Jim Y -58.1
16 Jenny W 52.6
Table 4
Player # Name Score
23 Mark T -15.0
8 Cassandra N 11.3
13 Estey G 48.7
21 Kevin X -45.0
Table 5
Player # Name Score
25 Michael D 10.6
34 Xiao Z -9.5
2 Peter D 34.7
26 Mike G -35.8
Table 6
Player # Name Score
33 Ty K -11.4
24 Melissa F 17.9
32 Takeshi T -45.7
37 Yishen W 39.2
Table 7
Player # Name Score
30 Sam F -20.2
6 Binyi Z 9.8
19 Josh H -43.0
14 Jackson J 53.4
Table 8
Player # Name Score
29 Rizeng Z 11.9
7 Brian T 62.0
1 Aaron E -49.0
11 Doris C -24.9
Table 9
Player # Name Score
22 Kristy C -65.3
20 Kaden C 17.7
28 Quincy H 61.9
27 Paul C -15.3
Round 2 Points Entry
Table 1
Player # Name Score
22 Kristy C -42.7
30 Sam F 57.1
23 Mark T -18.3
18 Jonathan F 2.9
Table 2
Player # Name Score
5 Andrew T -5.9
35 Yicheng Z 27.3
21 Kevin X 64.7
2 Peter D -86.1
Table 3
Player # Name Score
24 Melissa F -48.5
1 Aaron E 20.6
13 Estey G 41.5
3 Allan Y -13.6
Table 4
Player # Name Score
36 Yichi X 35.9
28 Quincy H -10.0
37 Yishen W 10.9
11 Doris C -36.8
Table 5
Player # Name Score
34 Xiao Z -13.4
12 Edward Z 18.5
15 Jeff T -49.4
6 Binyi Z 44.3
Table 6
Player # Name Score
33 Ty K -14.3
29 Rizeng Z 54.0
20 Kaden C 7.2
16 Jenny W -46.9
Table 7
Player # Name Score
25 Michael D 49.1
17 Jim Y 27.5
14 Jackson J -21.9
32 Takeshi T -54.7
Table 8
Player # Name Score
7 Brian T -52.5
10 Cooper W -6.8
27 Paul C 18.6
4 Allen Z 40.7
Table 9
Player # Name Score
8 Cassandra N -17.4
19 Josh H 17.4
26 Mike G -43.8
31 Steve A 43.8
Round 3 Points Entry
Table 1
Player # Name Score
30 Sam F 42.8
8 Cassandra N -41.1
17 Jim Y 17.1
28 Quincy H -18.8
Table 2
Player # Name Score
24 Melissa F 51.4
6 Binyi Z 29.1
4 Allen Z -29.9
11 Doris C -70.6
Table 3
Player # Name Score
34 Xiao Z -14.5
1 Aaron E -52.4
18 Jonathan F 8.2
27 Paul C 58.7
Table 4
Player # Name Score
33 Ty K 10.8
36 Yichi X -45.7
7 Brian T 53.4
2 Peter D -18.5
Table 5
Player # Name Score
25 Michael D -19.3
15 Jeff T -67.4
20 Kaden C 74.9
3 Allan Y 11.8
Table 6
Player # Name Score
12 Edward Z 24.3
16 Jenny W -6.1
32 Takeshi T -64.7
26 Mike G 46.5
Table 7
Player # Name Score
35 Yicheng Z 17.8
23 Mark T 40.4
10 Cooper W -43.2
37 Yishen W -16.0
Table 8
Player # Name Score
22 Kristy C 13.3
5 Andrew T -46.1
13 Estey G 50.3
19 Josh H -17.5
Table 9
Player # Name Score
29 Rizeng Z 59.7
21 Kevin X -69.8
14 Jackson J 18.3
31 Steve A -8.2
Round 4 Points Entry
Table 1
Player # Name Score
29 Rizeng Z 9.8
15 Jeff T -17.5
19 Josh H -39.7
10 Cooper W 47.4
Table 2
Player # Name Score
1 Aaron E -36.2
28 Quincy H 8.5
4 Allen Z 40.1
31 Steve A -12.4
Table 3
Player # Name Score
25 Michael D -40.3
18 Jonathan F -40.3
21 Kevin X 26.7
16 Jenny W 53.9
Table 4
Player # Name Score
35 Yicheng Z -21.3
6 Binyi Z 20.4
13 Estey G -42.8
26 Mike G 43.7
Table 5
Player # Name Score
24 Melissa F -56.0
12 Edward Z -10.1
30 Sam F 12.2
7 Brian T 53.9
Table 6
Player # Name Score
36 Yichi X -18.8
5 Andrew T 49.6
23 Mark T 12.7
32 Takeshi T -43.5
Table 7
Player # Name Score
3 Allan Y 42.4
27 Paul C -18.9
2 Peter D -41.8
11 Doris C 18.3
Table 8
Player # Name Score
20 Kaden C -29.9
8 Cassandra N -56.9
14 Jackson J 20.7
37 Yishen W 66.1
Table 9
Player # Name Score
33 Ty K -50.5
22 Kristy C 48.5
34 Xiao Z 11.9
17 Jim Y -9.9
Round 5 Points Entry
Table 1
Player # Name Score
1 Aaron E 49.6
23 Mark T 15.1
17 Jim Y -5.5
2 Peter D -59.2
Table 2
Player # Name Score
30 Sam F -46.6
15 Jeff T 47.3
31 Steve A -16.3
37 Yishen W 15.6
Table 3
Player # Name Score
12 Edward Z -18.9
20 Kaden C -63.2
13 Estey G 27.3
11 Doris C 34.8
Table 4
Player # Name Score
7 Brian T -47.4
19 Josh H 41.6
3 Allan Y 16.9
21 Kevin X -12.1
Table 5
Player # Name Score
24 Melissa F -55.1
22 Kristy C -9.1
35 Yicheng Z 32.1
16 Jenny W 32.1
Table 6
Player # Name Score
36 Yichi X 19.8
10 Cooper W -61.1
14 Jackson J -4.2
26 Mike G 45.5
Table 7
Player # Name Score
29 Rizeng Z 17.4
6 Binyi Z -13.7
18 Jonathan F 37.8
28 Quincy H -41.5
Table 8
Player # Name Score
25 Michael D 52.1
33 Ty K -20.9
5 Andrew T 24.9
27 Paul C -56.1
Table 9
Player # Name Score
34 Xiao Z -47.5
8 Cassandra N -23.3
4 Allen Z 24.5
32 Takeshi T 46.3
Round 6 Points Entry
Table 1
Player # Name Score
22 Kristy C 38.7
7 Brian T -23.5
32 Takeshi T 8.3
31 Steve A -23.5
Table 2
Player # Name Score
20 Kaden C 21.2
18 Jonathan F -9.9
19 Josh H -68.9
2 Peter D 57.6
Table 3
Player # Name Score
12 Edward Z 44.9
17 Jim Y -65.6
27 Paul C 23.0
37 Yishen W -2.3
Table 4
Player # Name Score
29 Rizeng Z -35.8
34 Xiao Z -13.6
35 Yicheng Z 7.3
3 Allan Y 42.1
Table 5
Player # Name Score
25 Michael D -31.1
36 Yichi X 76.3
30 Sam F -56.9
13 Estey G 11.7
Table 6
Player # Name Score
5 Andrew T 6.3
1 Aaron E 54.9
6 Binyi Z -47.1
10 Cooper W -16.1
Table 7
Player # Name Score
24 Melissa F -23.0
28 Quincy H 15.2
21 Kevin X 54.0
26 Mike G -46.2
Table 8
Player # Name Score
23 Mark T 39.6
16 Jenny W -2.3
14 Jackson J -5.2
4 Allen Z -52.1
Table 9
Player # Name Score
33 Ty K -21.0
15 Jeff T 49.8
8 Cassandra N 4.2
11 Doris C -73.0