[ad_1] From childhood game to competitive sport – RPS or rock-paper-scissors, commonly known as ‘Ro-Sham-Bo’ in the US, has revolutionized as a professional competitive sport over the span of several years. Initially, this game was played by children to solve friendly disputes, but in recent years, it has transformed into a fierce and competitive sport that is taken seriously by many.

RPS is a game that requires each competitor to choose one of three hand gestures representing rock, paper, or scissors. The game is usually played in the best of three or best of five formats. The basic rules of the game are simple, but it requires strategy, intuition and a fair bit of mind games to excel.

The first recorded mention of RPS dates back to China’s Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE), where the game was played with the fingers instead of hand gestures. But, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the hand gesture version of the game became popular in the United States.

Recently, the RPS world championship has been held annually since 2002. The tournament takes place over two days, with players from different countries competing for the championship title. The World RPS Society, founded in 1918, is the governing body for the sport, and it serves to regulate rules and ensure fair play.

It’s not just an obscure activity for a small group of enthusiasts anymore. RPS has become so serious and widespread that some schools and offices have implemented the game as part of their academic curriculum. In addition to schools and offices, some countries have even created their unique versions of RPS. For instance, in Japan, instead of the usual three options, there are an additional two hand gestures, lizard and Spock. The lizard gesture is formed by holding out the hand with the thumb and the pinkie finger outstretched, while the Spock gesture is formed by holding out the hand with the index and middle finger extended, and the ring and pinkie finger held together.

Even though RPS is now becoming popular and uniting players around the world, it still faces criticism by those who believe that the sport is too simple and lacks the physical exertion that other sports require. Despite this critique, RPS has a serious and legitimate following, with professional players traveling around the world, participating in tournaments and showcasing their skills to eager crowds.

In conclusion, the rise of RPS as a professional sport highlights the changing views of what constitutes a sport. The game has become more than a childhood pastime, and it has demonstrated that the most important aspect of any sport is not physical effort but strategy, fair play, and skill. RPS might have started as a mere game that resolves simple disputes, but today, it has grown to become a sport honed through years of practice and a prime example of how unconventional sports can take the world by storm.[ad_2]