The popularity of mahjong as a competitive sport has grown quickly. The game is now played in more than 40 countries, expanding since the first World Mahjong Championship in 2007.
Mahjong has been referred to as the "quintessence of Chinese culture" An apparent police ban on all mahjong parlours in a Chinese city led to panic among aficionados of China's national pastime.
Two, three or — usually — four players take turns drawing and returning the tiles, trying to put together one of numerous hands determined by the National Mah Jongg League, the arbiters of the ...