Please join The Lucky Sparrow for a
Mahjong Tournament
Supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
As a 2026 Richmond’s Finest honoree, Emily Cox (owner of The Lucky Sparrow) is dedicated to turning her passion for Mahjong into progress for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Come for the friendly competition, stay for the camaraderie, and play knowing every "Mahjong!" called brings us one step closer to a cure.
We’re bringing the community together for an afternoon of competitive play and charitable giving. Net proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, supporting their tireless work in research and patient care.
The Cause: Ending Cystic Fibrosis
The Game: American Mahjong
The Goal: Fun, Community, and a Cure!
Learn more about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and ways to donate directly here. Even if you can’t make it, a donation to the Richmond’s Finest campaign helps!
As a bonus, there will be prizes for highest (and lowest!) points overall and per round, plus door prizes!
Individual tickets are sold out, however a table of four is still available! This limitation ensures that table rotation is able to be maintained this close to the tournament itself.
Come participate in The Lucky Sparrow’s Mahjong Tournament for a good cause! We are raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by hosting our first Mahjong Tournament here in the Richmond area. Perfect for those who have never participated in a tournament before - it will be an afternoon of friendly competition and a great way to try out tournament play.
Only a full table of four is available at this point to ensure table routing is maintained.
Can’t make it? Support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through a donation here!
What to Expect
The Lucky Sparrow is excited to host it’s first Mahjong tournament in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation! If this is your first tournament, don’t be nervous! We are encouraging a friendly, social environment with some good competition thrown in.
Don’t forget to bring your 2026 NMJL Card!
Note: The games will be played with designer tiles (ex: Oh My Mahjong, My Fair Mahjong, The Charleston Club, etc.) A tile reference sheet will be located at each table for orientation if needed.
Experience Level
Experienced Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced!
You must know the NMJL rules of play to participate.
Date
April 26, 2026
Time
12:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
Location
The Dominion Club - 6000 Dominion Club Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23059
Tournament Details
The upcoming tournament promises a smooth and engaging experience for all participants! The event will feature three 60-minute rounds, with four games played during each round. While the pace of individual games may vary, each four-game round will be completed within the allotted hour.
To ensure everyone can dive right in (and save a few precious minutes!), tables will be fully prepared in advance with designer tiles (and guide), mats, racks, and dice. The walls will be pre-built for the very first game of Round One. Participants will begin at an assigned table for the opening round and will follow a clear, pre-determined rotation sheet for the two rounds that follow.
At the conclusion of each game, hands will be self-scored on a provided scorecard; East will provide a quick validation of each entry. A point adjustment rubric will be available for review before the tournament begins and will also be printed directly on the scorecards for a quick reference during the event.
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Your journey to "Mahjong!" starts here. Upon arrival, visit the welcome desk to receive your nametag, table assignment, and tournament scorecard. Use this time to mingle with fellow players and get settled before the formal Welcome begins.
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We’ll kick off the event with an overview of the tournament format, reminders, and about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Then, we’ll let you get started!
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We kick off the afternoon with our first official round of play. Test your strategy and build your hands as you settle into the rhythm of the tournament. The energy is high, the tiles are ready, and the competition is officially underway.
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A quick breather to stretch your legs and refresh your focus. Grab a drink, compare notes on your first round, or take a look at the great prizes!
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The stakes get higher as we move into the second round. With the first-round jitters out of the way, this is where you’ll find your groove! Keep your eyes on the tiles and your heart on the cause.
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Our extended break is the perfect time to refuel. Enjoy our selection of hors d'oeuvres and gourmet bites while you socialize. Feel free to step outside to enjoy the lovely patio!
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The home stretch! This final round of play determines our leaders. Bring your best defensive play and sharpest focus to the table as we wrap up the competitive portion of the afternoon.
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We close the day by raising a glass to our winners and our mission. We will share some remarks on CFF, followed by the announcement of tournament champions and our prize winners.
Prizes
The Lucky Sparrow has sourced prizes from some wonderful partners! Keep an eye on the list; there is more to come!
If you or your company are interested in providing a prize, please email Emily@theluckysparrow.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out to emily@theluckysparrow.com anytime.
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The rules will follow common tournament rules; however, they are currently being finalized. Once ready, they will be posted here and emailed out to participants.
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Scoring is tracked at the end of each game and each Round. Points are given based on the value of the hand won, with points added/subtracted based on certain variables. The points sheet is currently in development but will be posted here and sent to participants in advance of the tournament.
East will sign off on everyone’s scores before you throw in your tiles to shuffle!
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Each Round is 60 minutes during which every table will play four games. Walls will be built before the timer starts for the first game only of each round. Washing/shuffling, dealing, play and wall building for games 2-4 are all part of the timed round.
Either one or two Charleston rounds is allowed; the time spent on the Charleston could make for a faster game overall. However, please be aware of your own decision pacing so time isn’t wasted before the game starts. Communicate early if you intend to stop the Charleston after the first one.
If the fourth/last game isn’t completed in the 60 minutes, all players at that table will get zero points for the fourth/last game.
Please wash/shuffle your tiles and re-build walls at the end of Round 1 and Round 2 to prepare for the next one.
After Round 3, please organize the tiles on the template provided to ensure all tiles are accounted for.
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You can do it! An hour is longer than you think when you’re focused on the game. The gameplay is different than social play since everyone is working together to keep the game moving.
Some tips to consider:
Practice the Charleston and making quicker decisions! Sometimes our “deciding between hands” takes up the most time.
Know the card! Review the card and note the patterns for different lines so you can more easily recreate them with your tiles.
Time your group! Leading up to the tournament, time your games so you can see how long you take on average. Then have a few focus games to see how fast you can go when you put your mind (and your group) to it!
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We will announce our winners, give out prizes and hear more about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and their amazing efforts.
We also ask that each table organizes their tiles into stacks on a template (provided at the table) to confirm all pieces are present before leaving.