Bavaria’s Finger Wrestling Championship Draws 150 Competitors

A Bavarian competition put an unusual test of strength in the spotlight Sunday, when about 150 competitors gathered in Pflugdorf-Stadl for the 65th German Finger Wrestling Championships, according to UPI Odd News. The contest is conducted across a table, with two competitors facing each other. Each person places a middle finger into a leather loop linked to the opponent’s finger. The goal is to pull the other competitor toward one’s own side of the table. Matches can be over almost immediately or continue for close to a minute. Ferdinand Seitz won the senior category at this year’s event. Seitz told Euronews that the contest causes “excruciating” pain. Despite its unusual appearance, finger wrestling has roots in the Alpine region and remains popular in Bavaria, UPI reported. The championship’s 65th edition combined a traditional regional pastime with the format of a formal sporting competition, with contestants relying on the strength of a single finger to defeat their opponents.