Taiwan mahjong extravaganza draws hundreds

• Source: Global Times
• [22:31 July 27 2010]
• Comments

A student enjoying the mahjong competition in Taiwan. Photo: CFP

Online game companies have helped organize a mass mahjong competition for students that kicked off in Taipei arena last Saturday. The Taiwan United Daily News reported that more than 600 students from 10 colleges signed up for the competition, with most in face-to-face games and some playing online.

It has also attracted students from overseas, including Wu Dianqi, a recent graduate from DeVry University in the United States, who missed the deadline for last year's competition.

The Taiwan Junior College Mahjong Competition is being co-hosted by the mahjong club from the National Taiwan University.

Chen Qilin, the former president of the mahjong club, said that the competition was to boost the image of mahjong as a proper form of sport.

According to Xie Peifen of the mahjong club, preparations for the competition included assisting the senior community with charity work, accompanying seniors to mahjong games, and compiling the club's programs and training courses into a book, demonstrating their determination to promote mahjong.

Agency-Global Times