Ladies’ night mahjong, dealing to start the game (photo by J.Daniels Photo)
When Amy Echols’s sister-in-law introduced her to mahjong in 2024, no one Echols knew in the Waveland/Bay St. Louis area had ever heard of the game — nor could she find a teacher in south Louisiana or on the Coast.
Undeterred, she hired an instructor from Fairhope, Alabama, to tutor a group of 12 friends.
“Once my group learned to play and started talking about the game, word began to spread, and more people wanted to learn,” Echols says. “My background as a sales trainer gave me the confidence to teach adults how to play mahjong.”
Since then, she’s taught more than 1,400 people and organized lessons, competitions and social and league play. This summer, she’s serving as tournament director the inaugural Mississippi Gulf Coast Mahjong Classic, set for Aug. 21-22 in Pass Christian, and the network she founded, Geaux Mahjong, is an event sponsor.
The classic reflects skyrocketing interest in the game locally and beyond.
“The Mississippi Gulf Coast has seen an explosion of mahjong over the past two-and-a-half years since I started teaching,” Echols says. “Individuals that I taught are now teaching and organizing events. Classes are held in numerous locations along the Coast, and individuals have the opportunity to play almost every day during the week at social play events.”
Anna Claire Perronne, director of the Long Beach and Pass Christian Chambers of Commerce, says the classic is meant to give the swelling ranks of mahjong fans a premier experience that feels organized, competitive and worthy of the players’ skill level — all while displaying the Coast’s hospitality.
“At its core, the Mahjong Classic shows how a niche interest can still create a strong sense of community,” Perronne says, “with people gathering around the table, building connections, supporting local efforts and celebrating a growing tradition together.”
A TREND WITH PROVEN BENEFITS
Blending elements of rummy and poker, American mahjong is a tile-based strategy game in which four players take turns drawing and discarding tiles. The first player to complete a winning 14-tile hand calls out, “mahjong!”
Echols credits mahjong’s increasing popularity to several factors, namely a craving for connection outside of technology, celebrity enthusiasts like Julia Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker, the aesthetic appeal of beautifully designed tile sets and research showing that regular mahjong play can lower the risk of dementia and slow cognitive decline.
The community aspect of the game and the bonds it creates, Echols says, are among its greatest benefits.
“Individuals put away their phones and spend time face-to-face with others, engaging in conversation,” she says. “Players share information about families, careers (and) hardships and form some form of deep connection. It can become a weekly ritual that people look forward to.”
WHERE COMPETITION MEETS COMMUNITY
Perronne expects approximately 300 mahjong enthusiasts to attend the upcoming classic. The weekend will kick off with a welcome reception and party at The Pass Bungalows, featuring appetizers and craft cocktails made with locally sourced ingredients from The Pass Christian Olive Oils & Vinegars, followed by social play around the pool.
The tournament and downtown social play begin Saturday morning, and the festivities conclude with awards and raffle drawings. Throughout the weekend, guests can enjoy food and drinks from local restaurants, shop local boutiques and celebrate all Pass Christian has to offer, Perronne says.
“The Mississippi Gulf Coast Mahjong Classic will feel elegant yet relaxed, social and very welcoming — a true coastal gathering where competition meets community,” she adds.
For Echols, the tournament represents something much bigger than winning hands: a chance to build relationships and bring people together.
“Mahjong is a game centered on community, fun and friendly competition,” she says. “Everyone should honor the tradition and spirit of mahjong by treating one another with kindness and respect, celebrate good play, be gracious in both wins and losses and enjoy the chance to connect with fellow players.”
IF YOU GO
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Mahjong Classic
- Aug. 21–22
- Friday night reception and party, Pass Bungalows, 5-7 p.m.; Saturday, tournament and social play begin 9 a.m., Pass Christian Yacht Club (other Pass Christian locations may be used for social play as needed).
- Cost: $175 tournament play, $100 downtown pass social play
- For more info or to purchase tickets: www.mscoastchamber.com or call (228) 604-0014.
MAHJONG FAST FACTS
- Origin: China, mid-1800s, arrived in the U.S.: The 1920s
- American Mahjong rules standardized: 1937, when the National Mahjong League was founded by four women.
- Players per game: 4
- Winning hand: 14 matching tiles
- Time to learn: Most beginners grasp the basics in 2–3 lessons.
- Time to become proficient: With regular play, about 3–6 months.
- 179%: increase in Mahjong events in the U.S. from 2023 to 2024, according to Eventbrite data.
- 4,400%: Percentage increase in searches for mahjong clubs on Yelp from September 2024 through August 2025 versus the 12 months prior.
- 1,000: number of public mahjong clubs found by researchers tracking the game’s growth across the United States in 2026.
- Expected attendance at the inaugural Mississippi Gulf Coast Mahjong Classic: Approximately 300