Column 1–Put up, or…
Everyone I’m sure either knows Benjamin Boas or has at least heard of him. After much cajoling, he has finally agreed to write a column for RM.com. A big thanks to Ben for writing for us!
Anyway, his first column is about ECR 2010. Please be aware this was written before Ian’s article on MahjongNews.com. I’m sure it will add something to the debate!
-Gem
Hello Everyone,
This is my inaugural column for reachmahjong.com. It’s great to be here!
I recently returned home to Tokyo after completing my first job as a referee at the Second European Mahjong Championship. My trip was an absolute blast. It was wonderful to see all of my European friends, as well as a couple new American ones.
As the referee, I had the best view of peoples’ play at the tournament and I must say that I was very happy with what I saw. The skill level at this year’s championship was much much higher than 2008. I think this is due in part to the influx of skilled young players from countries such as Finland and Russia. In fact, players at this tournament were, on average, younger than any other I’ve been to. This isn’t, of course, to rag on the more senior members of the European community. After all, one of them pulled off a very impressive win!
This was my fourth European tournament. My first was the Open European Mahjong Championship of 2007 and it’s hard to believe how much I have changed since then. Three years ago, I could only see what was wrong with tournaments in Europe. The rules were full of problems, players didn’t appreciate the skill gap between Europe and Japan, and most of the organizers were not the best players. “How can EMA be in the hands of such amateurs!” I thought, and I went to all of the people I could trying to convince them that I knew better than they did and that they should do things my way. Then I got on this website and began flaming anyone who disagreed with what I thought was the pure, Japanese way of mahjong (sorry, guys!).
This particular method of criticism isn’t, I found, very productive. Of course, this is notwithstanding that my criticisms then, along with many criticisms I read of EMA and its tournaments now, are accurate in their content. EMA rules still have errors in them. The contents of this website and its book are not always completely accurate. The general level of play found at live tournaments in Europe is significantly behind that of Japan or its online mahjong servers. Plus, the MCR rules are still quite problematic. The organization as a whole is still very young.
Now, three years later and with a taste of life on the other side, I realize that I was missing the point. It’s certainly important that tournaments be run with the right rules and attract a high level of play, but its much more important that the tournament exists. Being able to play a game skillfully is all well and good, but if not for organizers no one would be able to play at all. We have a lot to thank of people like Tom Sloper, Martin Rep, Tina Christensen and Ilka Stummeyer, all players who would never claim to be the best but all instrumental in making this year’s tournament possible.
Furthermore, its important not to lose sight of how much progress has been made since 2007, or even since 2004 when I started playing. Back in 2004 there were no major tournaments outside of Holland; now there is a major one every year. We also have official rules for riichi–which don’t even exist in Japan–a rating list, an international governing organization, non-Japanese players who are demonstrably good, and a real international mahjong community. None of these things are perfect but all can be improved and they’re certainly a heck of a lot better than what I had 6 years ago.
So readers, consider this column to be a call for all those players who would say that EMA and other organizers are doing things wrong. If you really think so, then put your money where your mouth is! If you don’t like the way the tournament was run, organize your own! If you’re frustrated that the players around you aren’t striving to become better as much as you are, start up your own league. If you want the level of play in general to rise, then get more people into the game and it’ll happen.
Granted, all of this has been happening in the past couple of years, but I believe it could and will happen more. A small national mahjong organization of young and skilled players has already approached me asking for advice about running the next Riichi Championship. The USPML has thought of several very interesting ways to grow a business based on the game–something that’s not my forte but quite important in growing a significant player base. Even osamuko.com has started a league.
As the largest English-language community of riichi players, I think it’s our duty to be supportive of all of these efforts because they are the only way the game will grow. For those who would criticize and belittle efforts such as the above, while my 2007 self certainly understands and appreciates your feelings, criticism in and of itself simply doesn’t do any good. Start a blog, start a group, start a tournament. Every little bit counts!
