Mahjong extends global reach as Canada hosts world championship

Popularity as competitive sport continues to grow, digital platforms entice young players

Not even a painful knee could deter 83-year-old Deng Wenfeng from competing in the 7th World Mahjong Championship, which was held recently in North America for the first time.

Deng was the oldest player at the tournament, where she was affectionately called "Mahjong Grandma", and drew the attention of many contestants and spectators.

The championship was held in Mississauga, Canada, from Oct 11 to 14. Hosted by the World Mahjong Organization and organized by the Canada MCR(mahjong competition rules) Sports Association, the event brought together mahjong masters from around the world.

Mahjong is a game that originated in China in the 19th century. Typically, it is played by four people with 144 tiles. The tiles are drawn and discarded until one player gets a winning hand.

Deng even postponed knee surgery to participate.

"This is my third time participating in a World Mahjong Championship. I will never miss the opportunity to participate in the competition," she said with a smile. She took painkillers to ease the pain in her knee, and played her games standing on crutches.

Part of daily life

Born in Wuhan, Hubei province, Deng began playing mahjong in the 1960s during her lunch breaks.

"At the time, I played mahjong just for fun," she recalled. After moving to Canada in 2011 to be with her daughter, she wasted little time becoming part of the local mahjong scene. "I play mahjong every day; it has become an integral part of my daily life," she said.

Deng does not shy away from competing against younger players, but concedes, they "are faster, their mindsets are sharper, and their strategies sharper".

She said she enjoys the challenge. "I like playing against young people. I am not sad when I don't win," she said. "I just enjoy the game and try to do my best."

For Deng, mahjong is about friendship, quick thinking and clarity of mind. "It keeps me thinking fast and reacting quickly. You've got to pay attention to the game's changes, that is, observe the tiles, master your hand and predict your opponent's move," she explained.

Over the years, mahjong has helped her build a strong group of friends in Canada, and also in China when she visits. Her most cherished championship memories, however, have nothing to do with winning or losing. Two memories stand out in particular.

The first is the friendship she developed with a Japanese player who after each match came over to her, hugged her and shouted excitedly: "See you tomorrow."

The second was her chemistry with a young Canadian competitor. Throughout the championships, they cheered each other on.

Although Deng finished 119th with 14 points, she was still happy. "Winning or losing doesn't matter. At my age, just being here is an achievement," she said.

"We wanted to bring mahjong to North America because there are so many mahjong fans here, especially among the Chinese diaspora," Max Ma, chairman of the Canada MCR Sports Association, told China Daily. "Mahjong has been highly recognized for many years in Europe and Asia. This is our opportunity to expand its popularity here."