While it may seem frivolous, Rock Paper Scissors competitions have become serious business. There are annual national championships held in countries like the United States, Japan, and Australia, and there is even a World Rock Paper Scissors Championship that takes place in Toronto every year.
What makes these tournaments so entertaining is not just the level of competition, but also the unexpected moments that arise. Here are some of the best moments from Rock Paper Scissors tournaments:
The underdog takes it all
One of the most exciting things about any competition is seeing the underdog come out on top. That was exactly what happened at the 2013 World Rock Paper Scissors Championship. Tomoyuki Hashimoto, a relatively unknown player from Japan, shocked spectators by winning the title. It was his first-ever major championship win, and he did it by using the unorthodox strategy of always throwing rock.
The ultimate showdown
In 2016, two titans of Rock Paper Scissors faced off in the National Championships in the United States. Randy “The Rock” Haynes, who had already won multiple national titles, took on Andrew “The Paper” Bergman, who was a rising star in the RPS community. The two players went back and forth in a tense game that lasted for over 40 rounds before Haynes finally emerged victorious with a well-timed rock.
The upset of the century
No one expected Cody Lew to beat the reigning World Rock Paper Scissors Champion, Tim Conrad, at the 2019 tournament in Toronto. But that’s exactly what happened when Lew pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. Conrad had won the previous two world championships, but he was no match for Lew’s lightning-fast reflexes and well-executed throws.
The epic comeback
At the 2015 National Championships, Bill Leff made a stunning comeback against his opponent in the final round. Leff was down 2-0 and needed to win three consecutive rounds to take the crown. He managed to pull off the impossible, using a combination of skill and a little bit of luck to take down his opponent one throw at a time.
The unexpected tie
Sometimes, even the most experienced Rock Paper Scissors players can get thrown off their game. That’s what happened in a 2014 match between two veterans of the sport, when both players threw paper eight times in a row. The judges declared it a tie, and the players had to go again. This time, one of them switched it up and threw rock, but the other stuck with paper, leading to another tie. It took nine rounds before a winner was finally declared with a well-placed scissors.
These are just a few examples of the thrilling moments that can happen during Rock Paper Scissors tournaments. It’s a game that may seem simple, but it can lead to some incredibly exciting and unexpected outcomes. So the next time you find yourself playing a quick game of Rock Paper Scissors, remember that there could be a champion inside you waiting to come out![ad_2]