A Finnish accountant has won the Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland, becoming the first champion from the host nation in 25 years. The winner, known by his stage name 'The Angus', triumphed in a tense final against Japan's Yuta 'Sudo-chan' Sudo.
The competition, held annually in Oulu, saw contestants perform 60-second routines on invisible guitars, judged on technical skill, stage presence, and charisma. The Angus, a former runner-up, chose an Avenged Sevenfold song for his performance, which he rehearsed for weeks to perfect his moves.
After tying with Sudo, the pair faced an 'air-off' to Guns N' Roses' 'Sweet Child o' Mine'. The Angus emerged victorious, prompting a celebratory crowd to lift him onto their shoulders while singing Neil Young's 'Rockin' in the Free World'. He described the moment as a blur, saying he 'blacked out from shock'.
The Angus, who works as an accountant and bartender, first competed at age 10 after reading about the championships in a local newspaper. Inspired by AC/DC's Angus Young, he earned the nickname 'Little Angus' and has since made the finals every year since 2022.
He credited the air guitar community's supportive ethos, encapsulated in the motto 'Make air, not war', and expressed hope that his win would lead to more creative opportunities. Oulu is set to become a European Capital of Culture next year.
