‘National’ Rock, Paper, Scissors champion takes home $1000

Wellington held its second annual Rock Paper Scissors Championship at The Residence bar, with winner Zoe Rivera beating 99 fellow contestants and taking home a grand prize of $1000.

The championship was held over four rounds at $5 per entry, complete with a referee — wearing a black and white striped shirt — watching for illegal moves as contestants took turns heading the stage.

Leaning over a table aglow with fairy lights, contestants’ hands were thrown by young partygoers and middle-aged dads alike, spectators cheering on with jugs of beer.

As the night progressed, the list of names called to the stage grew smaller and smaller, until only Zoe and her nemesis remained.

Zoe said she felt “really good” about winning. She had entered the competition last year and lost to her friend, neither of whom had any particular strategy. Both had returned this year for another try. “I don’t even know what I’m going to spend it on,” she said when asked where $1000 would take her. “I’m going to think about it.” Kevin Malagamaalii, head of security at The Residence and MC of the competition, described how the event came to be over a post-event smoko.

“The owner of the bar likes to try new things. I remember him asking me, ‘Kev, what do you think about a Rock Paper Scissors comp?’

“I thought it was nuts at first, but then the more I thought about it — in Wellington, because we’ve got a real heavy base of students — it’s just a fun game that everyone knows, hence the reason I thought, let’s give it a go.”

Malagamaalii is looking forward to holding the championships again next year.