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American Matt Burns is new world air guitar champion

American Matt Burns late Friday was crowned world air guitar champion after winning the annual event in Oulu, northern Finland.

The win was sweet for Burns - who uses the stage name ‘Airistotle’ - as he was runner-up in 2012, 2014 and also last year when Kereel ‘Your Daddy’ Blumenkrants became the first Russian to win the title.

Blumenkrants finished second behind Burns, while Nicole ‘Mom Jeans Jeanie’ Sevcik of the United States took third place. Her husband Luke ‘Van Dammage’ Sevcik was tied for fifth place.

Burns, who is also US national champion, won a handmade electric guitar as first prize.

Contestants in the annual competition are judged on their ability to pretend to strum rock or heavy-metal electric solos - minus the instrument.

Contestants from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan were also among the 15 finalists. Ten qualified from dark horse rounds earlier in the week.

The first round of the finals opened with contestants playing a song of their own choice. In the second round, contestants have to play a compulsory song. This year, organisers picked ‘Speedin’’ by Finnish band Reckless Love.

The championships have been held in Oulu since 1996.

- dpa

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