Mumbai, October 31, 2026: With the Weekend League selling out in just 24 hours and the Weekday edition nearing capacity, Mahjong is gearing up for its own sporting revolution.

After much anticipation and speculation, someone has finally taken the lead in bringing a sports-inspired league format to India's growing Mahjong community. Anjali Shah of Bamboo Lounge, drawing from her background in football coaching, has initiated the Premier Mahjong League (PML) — an ambitious competition designed to bring a structured, team-based sporting format to the game.

The league will feature 12 teams each in the Weekend and Weekday editions, bringing together 192 players in total, with 96 players competing in each league.

The response has been nothing short of spectacular. The Weekend League was completely sold out within just 24 hours of opening registrations, attracting several prominent personalities, including Lavina Khanna and Danish, who have come forward to own teams.

The Weekday League is also witnessing strong interest, with just one team ownership slot remaining, according to sources who spoke to the Mahjong Cartel correspondent. Those still contemplating their participation might want to act quickly, the early movers have already secured their place!

How will the league work?

Borrowing from the structure of professional football leagues, the PML will follow a round-robin format. Each of the 12 teams will play against every other team, resulting in 11 league matches per team.

Before the main competition begins, players will participate in a Ranking Round. The results of this round will determine the rankings that will subsequently be used for the player auction, adding another layer of strategy to team formation.

At the end of the 11 matches, the team topping the league table will be declared the winner.

First-mover advantage and the business of Mahjong

Industry observers believe that Anjali Shah's first-mover advantage could prove significant. Introducing a structured league format has the potential to transform Mahjong from a largely recreational activity into a competitive, spectator-friendly sporting ecosystem.

The format also presents an interesting commercial opportunity. With a concentrated audience, prominent team owners and an increasingly engaged Mahjong community, sponsors are already eyeing the opportunity to get a share of the eyeballs.

Could the Premier Mahjong League become the beginning of a much larger professional Mahjong ecosystem in India?

For now, one thing is certain: while many were still thinking about it, Anjali Shah and Bamboo Lounge have made the first move.

Stay tuned to Mahjong Cartel for more updates on the Premier Mahjong League.

Mahjong Cartel will continue to follow the tournaments, communities and personalities shaping the growth of Mahjong across the world.

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