[Fantasy-Magician]

Originally Posted by night_sentinel

Yeah, the "???" tournament is called the spring or whatever tournament in the manga. I call it winter because that's how the other Japanese sports manga depict it. Usually after Interhigh, there is another tournament in the same year.

I think there's actually three tournaments every year although that's according to other sport Manga... but there's an implication by Nodoka that for Mahjong in Saki verse there's only two as she refer to Teru as double champion for last summer and spring tournament.
Based on what Momo said there's an autumn qualifier and it's not make sense if the tournament is in Spring (April) if the qualifier is in Autumn... so there's might be a Winter tournament.

"Shiraitodai has a different order in the spring tournament, so Toki didn't get to play against Miyanaga."

It was as if Senriyama is expecting Teru to be in the vanguard position, and implies this is usual for them.

I also curious about this although this 'maybe' can be explained by Kouko's commentary about how Shindouji used to have an offensive line up. I don't remember the exact line but basically she said they put a strong player on the front (Vanguard) and another in the middle (Sergeant/Lieutenant?)
-So as Teru is confirmed not playing as Vanguard in spring tournament
-She got to see through Shindouji's combo's secret and added with this line below....

Toki: "Well, the match was practically decided before you could do anything."

Ryuuka: "If you were watching, I'm sure you saw... When Shiraitodai won..."

Toki: "Miyanaga-san, huh? Kind of unbelievable that she's just a 2nd year

This imply that Shiraitodai 'might' have used to shift their ace to various position for each tournament.... (It's Teru, wherever she is she can wreck her opponents to oblivion) BTW the line above also sounds like Ryuuka is referring to previous Inter-high because she said 'if Toki was watching' means Toki was not in regular team yet. And Teru's position was before Ryuuka (who was probably a captain too back then)
Although... Kokaji's line about Shiraitodai decide to place Teru in Vanguard position after she shows her power as last dealer make it sounds like Teru was in one solid position before as she make it sound like something unusual/sudden for Shiraitodai to do. At least that's how it is for me...

As for Senriyama expecting Teru to be in Vanguard position it can be two reasons...
First,
The reason Senriyama got second is because they have one more ace which is Toki, and she was Vanguard in spring tournament. There's a high chance when Teru's turn to play come Senriyama already raking a ridiculously high points so even though Teru plummeted everyone's score, Senriyama managed to get second. This make Shiraitodai perceive Toki as a bigger threat than Sera and Ryuuka thus matching Teru up with Toki. Shiraitodai already expecting a confrontation with Senriyama twice at least since they're first and fourth seed.
Second probable reason,
By summer Shiraitodai undoubtedly would go recruiting players to replace their graduates. But the most important is that they have to get a player in Teru's class, a National class monster to carry the team after Teru graduated. And if Shiraitodai follow standard ace+backup ace, there's a big chance they will place Teru as Vanguard so their new ace can gain experience in tournament as captain and so on.

"The only first player's match at West Tokyo preliminaries that ended with a player running out of points was in this formation."


So far so good, Teru broke the record in the West Tokyo preliminaries by being the first person in the prefecture to put her opponent below zero in the first round. Well, this synced with what we know of Teru. Next quote:

"Shiraitodai High School decided to make Miyanaga Teru their first player after she showed her strength as the last dealer."

This could mean Teru showed her strength as last dealer when she was not a Vanguard, although it's weird Shiraitodai just realized this after having her in their line up for two years?

Teru entered tournament first year. She was in a random position. Then, Shiraitodai realized how ridiculous she is and put her in the vanguard after the tournament. Guys, remember that it is the vanguard which is the regular ace position not the captain. Thus, second year onwards Teru is in the vanguard position except in last years spring tournament. I think this fit with all the facts everything considered.

I find it doubtful that they just 'realized' how ridiculous she is after going through one tournament first. Shiraitodai in spite of located in second rated player region seems to be old enough club to have a tradition to choose representative team with a tournament instead of standard choose your five strongest player. With this kind of system, I kind of doubt Teru won't stick out like crazy.
And also about second year onward she is the Vanguard....
Kokaji's line, "Shiraitodai High School decided to make Miyanaga Teru their first player after she showed her strength as the last dealer."
Make it sounds like this is the first time they shift her to Vanguard position... ace as Vanguard is dandy and not a bad decision however... it's standard, and as shown in QF of side A no matter how ridiculous your ace is, there's no point if players next in line waste those points away...