Official Rules & Social Tournament Format

Saturday, August 1, 2026
Really Good Beer Stop • Nocatee

Welcome to the inaugural Mahjong in the Sun International Mahjong Day Tournament! This event has been designed as a social tournament experience that celebrates International Mahjong Day while bringing together our growing mahjong community for an afternoon of friendly competition, great food, new friendships, and unforgettable memories.

While tournament standings and prizes will determine our champions, the heart of this event is community. Unlike traditional marathon tournaments, our format emphasizes social play, balanced competition, and the opportunity to meet and play with a variety of players throughout the day.

Tournament Schedule

12:30 PM — Check-in opens

1:00 PM — Session 1 begins (Games 1–4)

Approximately 2:30 PM — Charcuterie lunch from Let's Cheese Jax, shopping, photos, leaderboard update, and score verification

3:00 PM — Session 2 begins (Games 5–8)

Approximately 5:00 PM — Awards ceremony and raffle prizes

Sunset Mahj Bonus Round - Optional Sunset Mahj Bonus Round should games end sooner than expected.

Tournament Format

• 32 players

• 8 total games of American Mahjong

• Two playing sessions of four games each

• All players participate in all eight games

• No eliminations

• No knockout brackets

• Every game counts toward your final score

The tournament is designed to balance competition with the social spirit of Mahjong in the Sun, giving players the opportunity to compete while also connecting with fellow mahjong enthusiasts.

Session 1: Games 1–4

Players will be randomly assigned to a table before the tournament begins and will remain at that table for all four games in Session 1.

At the conclusion of Session 1, each player's scores from all four games will be combined to create their Session 1 total.

During the lunch break, tournament staff will verify scores and post the leaderboard. Players will then be assigned new tables for Session 2 based on cumulative standings.

Leaderboard & Division Placement

During the lunch break, tournament staff will verify scores and post the tournament leaderboard.

Players will then be divided into two divisions based on cumulative scores after Session 1:

Championship Division

The top 16 players after Games 1–4.

Palm Division

The remaining 16 players.

All players continue playing in the tournament. Divisions simply create balanced tables and allow players to compete against others with similar scores during the second half of the event.

Session 2: Games 5–8

Players will be divided into the Championship Division and Palm Division based on their Session 1 scores.

Within each division, players will receive new table assignments and remain at that table for all four games in Session 2.

Scores from Session 2 will be added to Session 1 totals to determine the final standings.

Seating Assignments

Session 1: Randomly assigned seating.

Session 2: Players will be reseated based on cumulative standings after the first four games.

This format allows players with similar performances to compete together during the second half of the tournament while maintaining the social nature of the event.

Scoring

All games will follow standard National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) scoring rules.

Players are responsible for recording and verifying scores with all four players at the table before submitting their scorecards.

Final standings will be determined by:

1. Highest cumulative score after eight games

2. Highest individual game score

3. Highest cumulative score during Session 2

4. If still tied, tournament officials may declare co-champions or conduct a playoff hand

Tournament officials reserve the right to make final scoring determinations.

Rules of Play

• A current 2026 NMJL card is required.

• Standard NMJL rules apply.

• Eight jokers are in play.

• Blank tiles will not be used.

• Players are expected to call their own hands and maintain proper tournament etiquette.

• Any scoring dispute must be brought to a tournament official before the next game begins.

• Tournament director decisions are final.

Pace of Play

There is no fixed timer for individual games.

Players are expected to play at a steady pace. Tournament staff may assist tables as needed to keep the event running smoothly and on schedule.

Sportsmanship & Etiquette

Mahjong in the Sun events are built on community, connection, and fun.

Please:

• Treat all players with kindness and respect.

• Celebrate great hands and great play.

• Welcome and encourage fellow players.

• Practice good sportsmanship at all times.

• Remember that we are celebrating International Mahjong Day together.

Awards & Prizes

🥇 International Mahjong Day Champion

• Mahjong tile set valued at $200

• Complimentary registration to the Fall Bambird Scramble League

🥈 Second Place

• Complimentary registration to the Fall Bambird Scramble League

• Mahjong in the Sun swag + The Gifted Boutique Basket

🥉 Third Place

• Mahjong in the Sun Christmas tablecloth

Additional raffle prizes and giveaways will be awarded throughout the afternoon.

Tournament Scoring

The Mahjong in the Sun International Mahjong Day Tournament uses a point-based scoring system inspired by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) and the I Love Mahj online tournament format. Players will earn points throughout the day, and the player with the highest cumulative score after eight games will be crowned the International Mahjong Day Champion.

Winning a Hand

The winning player receives:

• The point value of the winning hand, as listed on the 2026 NMJL card.

• A 10-point bonus if the winning tile is self-picked from the wall (not called from a discard).

• A 20-point bonus for a jokerless hand (excluding Singles & Pairs hands).

Examples:

• A player completes a 30-point hand and draws the winning tile from the wall: 40 points (30 points + 10-point self-pick bonus).

• A player completes a jokerless 40-point hand drawn from the wall: 70 points (40 points + 10-point self-pick bonus + 20-point jokerless bonus).

Discard Penalties

If the winning tile is called from another player's discard, the player who discarded the tile receives a penalty based on the number of exposures in the winner's hand:

• 0 or 1 exposure: -10 points

• 2 exposures: -15 points

• 3 exposures: -20 points

The other two players receive 0 points.

Example:

A player completes a 50-point hand with two exposures by calling another player's discard:

• Winner: +50 points

• Discarder: -15 points

• Other players: 0 points

Wall Games

If no player declares Mahjong before the wall is exhausted:

• Each player receives 10 points.

• Any player whose hand has been declared dead receives 0 points for that game.

Tournament Standings

• Each player's scores from all eight games will be added together to determine their tournament total.

• The player with the highest cumulative score after eight games will be crowned the International Mahjong Day Champion.

• In the event of a tie, the player with the highest single-game score will be declared the winner.

• If a tie still remains, the highest Session 2 score will determine the final standings.

Score Verification

At the conclusion of each game:

1. Players should record all scores on the official scorecard.

2. All four players must verify the scores before submitting the scorecard.

3. Any scoring disputes must be brought to tournament staff before the next game begins.

Please note: This is a social tournament format designed to celebrate International Mahjong Day while balancing competition, community, and fun.

Optional Sunset Mahj Bonus Round

If time permits following the awards ceremony, players will be invited to participate in an optional Sunset Mahj Bonus Round to celebrate International Mahjong Day and get a sneak peek at our new Wednesday night community events at Really Good Beer Stop.

Bonus Round Format

• Four additional games

• Open to all tournament participants

• Fresh start—scores from the main tournament do not carry over

• The player with the highest cumulative score across all four bonus games will be crowned the Sunset Mahj Bonus Round Champion

🏆 Prize: The winner will receive four complimentary Wednesday nights at Sunset Mahj Wednesdays at Really Good Beer Stop (a $60 value).

The Sunset Mahj Bonus Round is designed to be a fun, social finale to the day and an opportunity to continue playing with fellow mahjong enthusiasts.

Please note: The bonus round is optional and will only take place if tournament timing allows.