51³Ô¹ÏÍø

The first 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Rock Paper Scissors Championships, organised by Sport 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, was held at the South Kensington Campus on Friday 5 October.

The first 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Rock Paper Scissors Championships, organised by Sport 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, was held at the South Kensington Campus on Friday 5 October.

Shortly before 12.30 students gathered under the Queen’s Tower and the event was opened by Dennis Wright, Dean of Students and Jane Neary, Director of Commercial Services.  After a brief demo by Dennis and Jane, the event commenced with a warm up session, to help participants limber up before the big event. Students were grouped and each game was ceremoniously opened with a traditional greeting between players, symbolising the cherished values of respect and honour in the sport.  After around an hour of tense competition, Alan Soltani, an undergraduate student in Physics department and Sonali Campion, a member of staff at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Hub were the only remaining competitors left fighting to be crowned 51³Ô¹ÏÍø RPS Champion.  In the end, after an intense and hotly contested final round, Alan was finally crowned 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s first RPS winner, to the delight of the excited crowd.

Alan and Sonali will now both represent 51³Ô¹ÏÍø in the on 13 October, which will be held in Penderel's Oak Pub.

Alan said, “I still can’t believe I won it! I decided to give it a go because it sounds fun, but I wasn't expecting myself to win.  But I am so pleased with myself and am very excited about the National Championship. I am really looking forward to it!”

Sonali also commented after the competition, “I'm still in shock! It started off fairly relaxed but as I climbed the steps it got more and more intense. When I lost the 4th game I thought it was all over, so realising I'd made the final was fantastic. I was disappointed to miss out on the overall title - there was a moment I thought I had it in the bag - but Alan was a worthy winner. I'm looking forward to testing my skills on the national stage next week."

Neil Mosley, Head of Sport 51³Ô¹ÏÍø later enthused that “Sport 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has always been devoted to enhance students and staff experience at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. We hope this event gives people, especially new students, a different way to meet new people.  This is our first 51³Ô¹ÏÍø RPS Championships and given everyone’s involvement and response today, we think it could become a new tradition at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø!”

Note: 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students and staff can also enter the at a discounted rate with the code ‘51³Ô¹ÏÍø RPS’.