About 60 competitors with names like "Fingas", "Rock Fist Always" and "Yes We Can" squared off in several preliminary rounds and then a finals bracket determined the winner.

"The idea of Second Wednesdays is to promote an event once a month to promote Union Square businesses, and bring people here who might not otherwise come here," said Jason Kean, 30 , of Somerville, who led the team of volunteers running the event.

MC Gerry Green entertained the rowdy but well behaved group with jokes and banter – a good time was had by all.

The winner, when all was said and done, was David Shark,19, a BU student.

When asked about any winning strategies he used, Shark said, "No real strategy up until the final. But in the final I went with rock on every hand except the last. I figured my opponent would think I would go with that, but I went with scissors and won it all with that."

"Shark" as he called himself won 127 dollars and a mug sporting a graphic of a rock, paper, and scissors.

Local businesses pitched in some goodies, so several present won raffle prizes.

Nate "Papelcut" Taneja, 28, of Somerville, was the runner up after a long lasting fight with "Shark." Taneja sported a necklace with scissors hanging from it. One crowd member shouted Taneja would never throw scissors.

"Jason and his team did great work," said Mimi "Lady Clipper" Graney, director of Union Square Main Streets. When asked about her personal approach, Graney joked, "The pace was just too fast, rock and scissors flowing everywhere. I wanted it all to slow down so I could plan out a strategy."

Other competitors in the best of five rounds included "Rock Star", "The Interminable Squid", "Nimble Fingers", "Rubble" and "Fist of Death."

Scott Loring,48, of Somerville, said 3 papers in a row is called the bureaucrat while 3 rocks in a row is called the avalanche.

"I'm a mediator professionally, so we use this sometimes. It's a non-violent way of solving things going back to ancient times," he joked.

The longest, most dramatic match featured "Papelcut", the eventual runner up, coming back from a 0-2 deficit to tie and, after at least ten draws on the deciding hand, he defeated Dan "Iron Fist" Brown.

Brown, 22, of Brockton said, "I saw this on YouTube. It looked pretty ridiculous, but I wanted to give it a try before I knocked it. And maybe it would be an easy way to win money."

James, 32, of Davis Square, called himself "Dax." "My friends do this all the time to settle who goes first in golf, basketball and all, but this is my first formal competition. I realize its mainly left to chance, but I'm hoping to psych out my first opponent with a Jedi mind trick."

Kean said next month's Second Wednesday, which may change its name to "Community Fun Time," will probably feature a puppy love and Valentines Day theme and focus on pet stores and local animal shelters and be involved with "Dogma," a Union Square pet care business. Proceeds will likely go to support the local dog park.