Winning the USA Rock Paper Scissors League Championship could take you to Panama City, Fla., for MTVU's Spring Break, where students will have a chance to compete for $20,000 toward tuition.
The competition, sponsored by AMP Energy, takes place today in the SUB Ballroom from 11:30 to 2 p.m. It's open to the first 128 students who sign up, so show up early. Students can also pre-register by e-mailing AMP representative Chelsea Redmond at Chelseachic07@aim.com.
The battle starts with four groups of 32 students, made up of three matches consisting of three throws each. Redmond and four of her friends will judge. She said the game is straightforward and that it would be hard to cheat, although there are little things she is supposed to watch for.
"If they throw the wrong move - you can't do paper up and down, you have to make them redo it," she said. "If they're not in sync with the one-two-three-shoot, then they have to start over again. They're saying we have to watch out for people, notice their eyes. If someone hesitates to throw theirs out at the end, that's a way they could cheat."
John Robertson, campus representative for AMP, said this is the first time the company has organized the competition, teaming up with the U.S. Rock Paper Scissors League.
"We thought this would be a really great way to benefit students at UNM, and it would be something fun for them to compete in," he said. "It's a universal game. Everyone knows how to play rock-paper-scissors. That's what makes the competition fair to everyone."
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Strategy definitely comes into play, Robertson said.
"It's more of a mental game because you think of what your next opponent's going to throw," he said. "If you predict that, you're going to win. The first round is the best out of three throws. And then they have to win the next two and move onto the matches, and in the final eight it's best out of three throws and best out of three matches."
He said AMP Energy drink pays for the winner's flight and hotel.
"It's pretty much all-expenses paid," Robertson said. "They will be there for three days between the 15th and 22nd of March."
Students will then compete in the final round with other winners from campuses across the country.
