America’s Matt Burns holds onto Air Guitar World Championship title

Matt “Aristotle” Burns has defended his title at the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland, an event that started as a joke but has grown into an annual celebration of pretend playing guitar.

Matt “Airistotle” Burns is the best when it comes to pretend playing guitar.

Winner Matt "Airistotle" Burns of the US performs during the final of the Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland, on August 25, 2017. (Reuters)

The American successfully defended his title at the 22nd Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland, on Friday after competing in the finals against 15 contestants from South Korea, Pakistan, Sweden, Britain, Canada and other countries.

Winner Matt "Airistotle" Burns of the US performs during the final of the Air Guitar World Championships on August 25, 2017. (Reuters)

Burns, of Staten Island, New York, finished ahead of runners-up Patrick “Ehrwolf” Culek of Germany and Alexander “The Jinja Assassin” of Australia, who tied for second place.

Japan’s 15-year-old Show-Show placed third.

Winner Matt "Airistotle" Burns of the US celebrates during the final of the Air Guitar World Championships on August 25, 2017. (Reuters)

A heavy metal version of I Will Survive helped Burns romp away with a score of 35.4. Culek and Roberts each scored 34.6 points, Show-Show 34.5.

The Air Guitar World Championships started off as a joke but has grown into an annual celebration of guitar-miming choreographers that draws people to Finland from around the world.