In the beginning, Mai is a self-absorbed woman who only likes her prize money. She once worked as a card dealer on a ship-board casino, lost in life, until finding purpose with Yugi Mutou (Yugi Muto in the English anime) and his friends. After she meets them, she seems to start caring more for her friends and the deeper meanings of the game as her wins become empty to her later in the series. Mai first appears in the Duelist Kingdom arc of the manga. She lost the first duel she is seen participating in to Katsuya Jonouchi (Joey Wheeler in the English anime). In the actual tournament, she loses to Yugi.