14 Months of Riichi Mahjong - From Beginner to Switzerland's #1 Ranked Player

14 months ago, I started playing Riichi Mahjong. What began as curiosity about a Japanese tile game quickly turned into a passion that has taken me further than I ever expected.

More than 1,000 online games, 9 European Mahjong Association (EMA) tournaments, and a podium finish later, I still love the game just as much as when I first started.

Along the way, I've reached Master 3 in Mahjong Soul, climbed into the top 30 players in Europe, and currently hold the #1 spot in the Swiss EMA rankings.

From Playing Mahjong to Teaching It

As much as I enjoy competing, I've discovered that sharing the game with others can be just as rewarding.

Riichi Mahjong is a fascinating combination of strategy, probability, skill, and a little bit of luck. Every game presents new challenges, and even after thousands of hands, there's always something new to learn.

Unfortunately, Riichi Mahjong is still relatively unknown in Switzerland, and finding people to play with locally isn't always easy.

That's something I want to change.

Bringing Riichi Mahjong to Unterägeri

To help introduce more people to the game, I started Riichi Mahjong Unterägeri, a local group where beginners can discover and learn Japanese Riichi Mahjong in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Since starting the group, we've already held more than 10 events, with over 16 different people attending so far.

Seeing complete beginners gradually understand the rules, recognize their first winning hands, and start developing their own strategies has been incredibly rewarding.

You don't need any previous Mahjong experience to join. I teach the rules from scratch, and the goal is simply to have fun, learn something new, and meet people who share an interest in the game.

What's Next?

While I plan to continue competing in EMA tournaments, the European Championship in 2027 and improving my own game, I also want to keep growing our local Mahjong community.

My hope is that more people in Switzerland will discover Riichi Mahjong, whether they want to play casually with friends or eventually compete in tournaments themselves.

Interested in learning Riichi Mahjong?

Come join us in Unterägeri! Beginners are always welcome, and I'd be happy to introduce you to the game.

Visit riichi-mahjong.ch to learn more and join an upcoming event.