Rock, Paper, Scissors

Time for recess:

ROCK crushes scissors, scissors cut paper and paper covers rock. But nothing beats an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas and a shot at winning $US50,000 ($60,000).

What was once a game to settle playground disputes has grown to be on the cusp of recognition as a global sport, with this year's finals of the USA Rock Paper Scissors Tournament drawing more than 300 contestants from all over the country.

...Sunday night's final was the culmination of more than 300 regional heats involving, according to Mr Lesham, "hundreds of thousands of people" who all beat their fists twice in the air (three times in Australia) before revealing one of the symbols.

The $US50,000 prize went to Jaime Langridge, a male nurse from Odessa, Texas.

The pre-tournament favourite, Antonie "Shears" Maanum, was eliminated despite trying to put off opponents by wearing a red silk boxing gown.

Paramedics were on hand in case of "wrist or shoulder dislocations", while each bout took place under trained referees.

Fouls include the vertical paper throw, known as "the handshake", illegal because it resembles scissors - as well as the horizontal scissors throw, outlawed for the opposite reason.

More legitimate techniques include "cloaking" - concealing your choice until the last possible second - or "shadowing", where players pretend to choose one symbol and then change at the last second. Some players use special fingerless RPS gloves.

"A lot of people tried to cheat. They throw early and then roll their hands," Mr Leshem, a 44-year-old Hollywood producer who clearly understands the value of hype, said.