The largest multi-style mahjong tournament on the East Coast
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Dock 5 @ Union Market
Washington, DC
Welcome to Mega Mahj, the largest mahjong tournament on the East Coast — and the only one that includes tracks for American (NMJL), Hong Kong, and Japanese (Riichi) games!
Each track has its own unique game play and rules, and there are divisions for beginners and experienced players.
So, get ready for some exciting prizes for the top-scoring players in each round/hanchan, the overall winners of each division, and a grand prize winner—who will get the chance to win an Automatic Mahjong Table!
Win great prizes — including an Automatic Mahjong Table!
Regular registration is over.
TheWaitlist has begin.
Sign up as usual. Players will be confirmed by Monday, August 3.
Players will only be charged when confirmed.
Mega Mahj benefits these critical organizations
How the Tournament Works
AMERICAN
(NMJL) PLAY
Game play managed by
Two tracks will be offered: COMPETITIVE and RECREATIONAL.
For the Competitive track, scoring is based on the NMJL card, with extra points awarded for Jokerless hands, and winning by selecting your final tile, and with points taken away for discarding a tile used for another’s mahjong. There are a total of 16 games: 4 games per 50-minute round, with 4 rounds.
Prizes will be awarded to overall highest score, and highest percentage of wins.
For the Recreational track, you still get the pleasure of yelling “Mahjong!” when you win (scoring is optional.) Door prizes will be awarded randomly. There are a total of 12 games: 3 games per 50-minute round, with 4 rounds.
For both tracks, players move between tables after each round. Official rules are in the FAQ below.
For preselected players that bring a set, there is a Tablescape Competition. Before game play, a jury will review table designs, and prizes will be awarded.
11:00am — Check-In
11:45am — Tablescape Judging
12:00pm — Round 1
1:00pm — Round 2
2:00pm — Lunch Interval
3:00pm — Round 3
4:00pm — Round 4
5:00pm — Speed Round (optional game) and Score Tabulation
5:30pm — Award Ceremony
HONG KONG PLAY
Game play managed by
Two tracks will be offered: COMPETITIVE and RECREATIONAL. The tournament is conducted in accordance with Hong Kong–style mahjong rules. Both the COMPETITIVE and RECREATIONAL tracks consist of eight rounds of play, forming two complete wind cycles of hands.
Each session is 75 minutes and includes two consecutive rounds. Across the day, all four winds (East, South, West, and North) will be played in sequence.
A total of four sessions will be played throughout the day, with two sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Scoring is based on traditional Hong Kong 3 fan-based rules, with all winning hands calculated and recorded. Cumulative scores across all eight rounds will determine the final standings.
Players will rotate tables between sessions. Seating will be randomized and assigned to ensure fairness and competitive balance throughout the tournament.
9:00 AM — Player Check-In
10:00 AM — Session 1 (East Round → South Round, total of 8 hands)
11:30 PM — Session 2 (West Round → North Round, total of 8 hands)
1:00 PM — Lunch Interval
2:00 PM — Session 3 (East Round → South Round, total of 8 hands)
3:30 PM — Session 4 (West Round → North Round, total of 8 hands)
5:00 PM — Score Tabulation
5:30 PM — Award Ceremony
JAPANESE
(RIICHI) PLAY
Game play managed by
The competition will be 4 hanchans (south game) each 75 minutes long. Player pairings each round will be randomly determined with no repeat match ups. Tournament score will be cumulative across all 4 rounds with +15/+5/-5/-15 uma. WRC standard ruleset. No Red 5s. Lower penalty enforcement.
Scoring: With 15/5 uma, each round the top two players at a table receive a bonus of 15,000 and 5,000 points respectively, while the bottom two players are penalized the same amounts to adjust final rankings beyond the raw table scores.
Official rules are in the FAQ below.
9:00am — Check-In
10:00am — Hanchan 1
11:30am — Hanchan 2
1:00pm — Lunch Interval
2:00pm — Hanchan 3
3:30pm — Hanchan 4
5:00pm — Score Tabulation
5:30pm — Award Ceremony
Win Fabulous Prizes!
Including mahjong sets, accessories, jewelry, restaurant gift cards, clothes — and the top players will draw for an Automatic Mahjong Table!
Hotel Information
For those traveling from out of town (or wanting to make a weekend out of the fun), we have arranged a special room block with the Hyatt Place DC/US Capitol at 33 New York Ave, NE, a short walk to Dock 5 and the Union Market neighborhood
Standard King: $169.00 per room per night
Breakfast included
Discounted Valet parking @ $30.00 per car
Room block available through July 10 only.
Rooms are limited.
FAQs
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At this time, we are set up for one track per player. This may change in future tournaments.
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YES!
For American (NMJL) game play, you may register for the COMPETITIVE track (earned prizes), and a RECREATIONAL track (random door prizes). The Recreational track is perfect for beginners who might not want the stress of a competition. The game play is the same — but the pressure is off.
Hong Kong and Riichi tracks welcome all skill levels.
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American (NMJL): We will use the scoring on the 2026 NMJL card. Players will receive double points for hands without Jokers. Players will be penalized 10 points for throwing a tile needed for mahjongg to a player with two or more exposures.
Hong Kong: Scoring is based on traditional Hong Kong fan-based scoring, with all winning hands calculated and recorded. Cumulative scores across all eight rounds will determine the final standings.
Riichi: With 15/5 uma, each round the top two players at a table receive a bonus of 15,000 and 5,000 points respectively, while the bottom two players are penalized the same amounts to adjust final rankings beyond the raw table scores.
The top winners/scorers of each competitive track will be eligible for a drawing for the Grand Prize: an automatic mahjong table.
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For American (NMJL) Competitive track: click here
For American (NMJL) Recreational track: click here
For Hong Kong (English): Quick Guide here + HKMA comprehensive bilingual rule here
For Japanese (Riichi): click here
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The winners of the following awards will have a chance to win the Automatic Mahjong table through a drawing.
American Competition: Highest Overall Score (determined by scores of 16 games)
American Competition: Most Wins (determined by percentage of wins and score combination)
Hong Kong: TBD
Japanese (Riichi): TDB
Participants in the recreation tracks are eligible for random drawing prizes awarded throughout the tournament.
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At this time, we expect the room to be at capacity, so observers and audience are not permitted. If this changes, we will make an announcement via social media.
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We are actively working to vendors to showcase new sets, mahjong accessories, housewares, and gift items.
In addition, Mega Mahj will have merch for sale at the event, including our exclusive Jong Jong mascot plushy.
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YES! The tournament benefits the Chinese American Museum, the DC Library Foundation and MLK Library Friends, the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, the Japan-America Society of America, and the Save Chinatown Solidarity Network.
At the event, raffle tickets will also be sold, with a portion divided equally between the organizations.
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Union Market hosts over 30 different restaurants and stalls for every taste. Players are welcome to bring food into the game play area.
There will also be an on-site bar with drink specials, and delectable finger foods for purchase.
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Dock 5 is located at 1309 5th St NE Washington, DC 20002 — the second floor of the white Union Market building.
We highly recommend taking Metro to the event. The venue is a short walk from the NOMA Metro station.
There is a surface parking lot and multiple garages within two blocks of the space.
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The facility is fully accessible.
We will make every accommodation possible for players. If you have a special request, please let us know in your registration.
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You may miss a game or more, for which you will receive no score. This may affect your overall standing in a quest for a top prize. Every accommodation will be made to place you at your table in a timely manner.
If you have to leave early, your final score will be based on whatever data we have at the time of your departure.
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We are sorry that you may not be able to attend.
There are no refunds, but you may email madmahj@gmail.com if you want to transfer your registration to another person.
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The event is produced by Reel Plan through a partnership with DC Drop-In Mahjongg, Mahjong United, and DC Riichi Mahjong.
The tournament benefits the Chinese American Museum, the DC Library Foundation and MLK Library Friends, the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, the Japan-America Society of America, and the Save Chinatown Solidarity Network.