BEIJING - It's down to the last move, and Mark Cleland's eyes are bulging and sweat is pouring off his brow. His opponent, Canadian Sebastian Gatica, loses a moment of concentration -- and in the end, the whole competition.
As the world's best athletes battle it out at the Beijing Olympics, a tournament of a different kind unfolded at Club Budweiser a few kilometres away. The stakes are high: a shot at being the world's Rock Paper Scissors champ.
Yes, the game often used to break a tie or make a selection -- like tossing a coin -- has gone global.
"Who could have ever imagined that RPS would get this big?" said American player Sean (Wicked Fingers) Sears, who learned how to play from his grandmother when he was five.
Cleland, representing Ireland, downed three beers before taking home a gold medal Saturday. He was cheered on by a small crowd of Chinese and foreigners, including scantily clad Budweiser girls representing game sponsors Bud Light.
The game, which was broadcast on the Fox Sports Network, pelted four players from Ireland, Canada, Guam and the United States with bright lights and numerous cameras on a small stage. Each of the players beat out hundreds of RPS competitors around the world to land a spot in Beijing.
As they prepared for the competition, Cleland jumped up and down while throwing punches into the air. Another player took deep breaths and closed his eyes. Gatica, wearing a red Canada sweat shirt, looked ahead with an unblinking stare.
In the one-hour match, players laughed, yelled and fist-pumped during their roller-coaster ride of emotion. At one point, the stress was so intense, Sears forgot to breathe as his face turned cherry red. The atmosphere was like that of a World Cup final game during the deciding penalty kick.
"It's not a sport for sissies," said Sears, 23, who took home the bronze medal after losing to Cleland. Gatica took home the silver.
Most people know the game from childhood, when they threw out a hand representing either a rock, paper or scissors. Paper beats rock by covering it; scissors beat paper by cutting it; and rock beats scissors by smashing it.
In the first round-robin tournament, competitors played 2-of-3 best throws. The round-robin winners then went on to the semifinals and finals, which is played in what they call "hustler" style: the first player to 10 wins.
Players have learned to read opponents' body gestures. Gatica says women are more likely to throw out scissors and men love to throw rock. Inexperienced players prefer double runs, where they throw the same play twice in a row.
Though once just child's play, it's become a sport played by thousands of adults around the world.
"We've turned this into a serious, high-intensity sport," said Mark Brangam, Cleland's trainer.
Training for competitions is a gruelling cocktail of mental and physical exercises. In past, players have exhausted themselves to the point of tearing muscles and throwing out their shoulders during competitions.
Matti Leshem, founder of the U.S. league and the International RPS Foundation, says he maintains a strong physical body for competition by practising boxing and pilates to maintain dexterity and strength.
"I often play for money, so I need to stay in the best shape possible," said Leshem, who plans to check out Shanghai's "booming" underground RPS scene next week. Gambling is illegal in China.
Cleland says he gets recognized everywhere he goes in Ireland, and Sears carries a throng of female groupies with him.
"Yeah, it's a great feeling," said Sears, with a smile.
Sears was crowned the U.S. national champion in June and won a US$50,000 grand prize in Las Vegas after defeating hundreds of competitors from around the United States.
As the sport continues to grow in popularity, RPS players have taken their interest to a higher level. The want a shot at the Olympics as RPS athletes.
"Why not the Olympics?" Leshem said. "If women running around with ribbons and hula hoops can go to the Olympics, so can we."
