The world of professional mahjong has now expanded beyond Japan with the exciting launch of its first U.S. professional tour. World Riichi and the United States Professional Mahjong League (USPML) have revealed plans for a multi-stop event set for June. The 2026 U.S. Tour is expected to bring top players from Japan’s M.LEAGUE to Las Vegas and New York City for a series of competitive tournaments, exhibition matches, and engaging fan events.
Originating in China, mahjong is a strategic tile-based game that has gained popularity worldwide. Riichi mahjong, the competitive format popular in Japan, has evolved into a professional sport boasting dedicated leagues, extensive broadcast coverage, and fierce international competitions.
The U.S. tour will kick off in Las Vegas from June 26th to 28th. A press conference is scheduled for 11:00 am on June 26th, followed by the main tournament taking place at HyperX Arena inside the Luxor Hotel & Casino on June 27th and 28th.
Participants from the U.S. will have the thrilling opportunity to compete against eight esteemed professional players from Japan and the broader riichi mahjong community. The lineup includes renowned players such as Kotaro Uchikawa, Hiroshi Yamai, Sayaka Okada, Mari Takamiya, Yoshihiro Matsumoto, Sho Shiratori, Megumu Aikawa, and Yuumi Uotani.
All matches in Las Vegas will be played on automatic shuffling tables provided by Alban. The event will also feature bilingual commentary by the creators of the Sukeban International podcast and will be livestreamed on the World Riichi YouTube channel.
Following the Las Vegas leg, the tour will head to Manhattan. Sparrow’s Nest Studio in New York City will host a fan meeting on June 30th, with exhibition matches scheduled for July 1st. These matches will also be broadcast on the World Riichi YouTube channel.
Tickets for the Las Vegas tournament went on sale on April 2nd. Early-bird entry was priced at $450 (~£354), with ticket prices rising to $500 (~£393) starting from May 1st. Tickets for the Las Vegas After Hours event were also made available at the same time.
The U.S. tour signifies another significant milestone in the global expansion of mahjong. While M.LEAGUE has garnered a strong following in Japan through its professional league structure and extensive broadcast presence, events like the World Riichi Championship and the new U.S. series demonstrate a concerted effort to promote competitive riichi mahjong on an international scale.