Leading Mahjong Tournament Teams Up with The Venetian® Macao
(MACAU, January 20, 2010）The World Series of Mahjong (WSOM) will return to Macau again this summer after the amazing success of the last two events. The third-annual WSOM will be held from August 19-22, 2010 at the prestigious The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel. WSOM continues to be the world’s largest mahjong tournament in terms of player participation and prize money.
The 2010 WSOM will include three separate tournaments, namely the 3-day single-elimination Main Event World Championship, a US$5,000 buy-in High Rollers Event and the US$1,000 buy-in Reach (Riichi Rules) Event. The buy-in for the Main Event is HK$5,000 (US$650), plus HK$500 registration fee. Prize money will be based on the number of participants in each tournament. The total maximum prize pool for the combined 2010 WSOM events is US$1,000,000, and prize money will be paid to the top 32 places in the Main Event. All tournaments are open to any mahjong player who is at least 21 years of age. Official registration for the 2010 WSOM will begin on May 1, 2010. For more details, please visit the new WSOM website at www.wsom168.com.
Organisers of 2010 WSOM
“We are happy to bring the World Series back to Macau this year, and excited to be working with The Venetian® Macao as our official venue partner. Over the last two World Series events we saw extraordinary mahjong players emerge at these tournaments, with an amazing level of skill and competition. This year’s event is expanding its size and reach to bring together some of the top mahjong players in the world and provide them with a brand new tournament experience at a world-class venue. Last but not least, we wish to sincerely thank The Venetian® Macao for their enthusiastic support of WSOM,” said Mr. John Hardyment, CEO of World Mahjong Limited, the owners of the WSOM.
“The Venetian Macao is proud to be bringing the third annual Worlds Series of Mahjong tournament to Macao in August. It is the first, largest and the only true championship mahjong tournament in the world. Hosting this prestigious event is part of our continuing commitment to bringing world class sporting and entertainment events to Macau,” said Mr. Mark Russell, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel.
The Venetian® Macao will work hand in hand with World Mahjong Limited to promote and support the annual World Series of Mahjong. In addition, The Venetian® Macao will sponsor a new qualifying series of tournaments this year, “The Venetian® Macao Mahjong Tour”, which includes events in Taipei, Tokyo and Sydney. The Taipei tournament will be on March 20, 2010 with the final dates for Sydney and Tokyo to be confirmed. The top eight finishers in each qualifier will be entitled to free entrance to the 2010 WSOM Main Event, plus complimentary travel and accommodation at The Venetian® Macao.
“I have been waiting anxiously to play in the WSOM again. The last event was a dream for me. Nothing could be compared to the excitement of matching my skills against all the good players from different parts of the world. I have made very good friends with some of the players after the event. Also, I have been spreading the good words about WSOM to all my fellow mahjong friends. We are planning to participate in the tournament together and I will beat them at the mahjong table this year!” said Mr. Alex Ho Kwok-hung, the champion of WSOM 2008.
The WSOM features the world’s best mahjong players from around the world competing for cash prizes in the exciting tournaments being held annually in Asia’s gaming capital. Given the diversity of mahjong rules as played in Asia and other parts of the world, the WSOM employs a simplified rule and scoring system that is fair to all, simply and easy to learn, systematic and consistent, and emphasizes the playability of the game as a competition of skill. A detailed description of The World Series of Mahjong Rules® is available at www.wsom168.com.
The WSOM was created by World Mahjong Limited in 2006. The principal partners and management team are international media veterans and entertainment industry practitioners. Headquartered in the Greater China Region, World Mahjong Limited organizes major, high-quality international sports and entertainment events. Details about the event – enrolment, format, rules and scoring system– are available at www.wsom168.com.
