Belfast man tops world at rock, paper, scissors
World domination has eventually proved to be child’s play for the Irish in Beijing after a handy Belfast man took home a gold medal.
Mark Cleland, 24, sliced through the global competition to win the international rock, paper, scissors games.
Local and national qualifying tournaments drew thousands of competitors from across the world.
The winners were given a trip for two to the Olympic Games and the chance to take part in the global competition.
Mr Cleland said: “Facing off against the finest rock, paper, scissors players in the world was an intense challenge that pushed my skills to the limit.
“I tried to look for patterns in my opponents’ throws, and in the end, they played right into my hands.”
Mark beat 31 rivals in the Irish final in Dublin last May to win the chance to represent Ireland at the Beijing championships.
There he defeated Canada’s Pablo Sebastian Gatica in the final on August 23, while Sean Sears from the US was awarded the bronze medal in the first-ever Budweiser International Rock, Paper, Scissors Federation Championship.
“We set out with Budweiser to find the most talented rock, paper, scissors players in the world and Mark proved to be a cut above the rest,” said Matti Leshem, founder and Commissioner of the USA Rock, Paper, Scissors League and International Rock Paper Scissors Federation.
Club Bud, a Budweiser-sponsored nightclub that hosted parties throughout the 2008 Olympic Games, was the venue for the championship.
