Mahjong players to battle it out for US$500,000 prize as World Series returns

Hong Kong's mahjong experts are being given a chance to take on the world for serious money as the ancient Chinese game's global championship returns after five years - with more than US$500,000 at stake.

For the first time, the World Series of Mahjong tournament - which has been held three times since 2007 - will involve an online qualifying competition, which begins next month. That will whittle the field down to 500 competitors for the final, played over two days in December.

The ancient game, thought to date to about 500BC, involves 144 tiles showing Chinese characters. It is massively popular in Hong Kong and the mainland, despite the fact it was officially forbidden there for decades due to its association with gambling. Different rules are used around the world, but organiser World Mahjong Limited will operate a standardised set of rules used in many international contests.

Jim Mehren, president of World Mahjong, would not say why the competition was being revived now. But he urged people to practise online and begin earning points towards qualification through event partner and online mahjong operator Funtown.

The top 32 in the final will split a prize pool of US$575,000, with the winner taking home a gold mahjong necklace.