German men with the strongest fingers compete in Bavaria's 'Fingerhakeln' wrestling championship

Strongest German fingers vie for victory in Bavaria's 'Fingerhakeln' wrestling championship. Traditional sport draws global attention

Bavarian Men Wrestle Fingers at Unique Championship in Germany

 

BERNBEUREN, Germany  — Despite the risk of dislocated fingers and strained muscles, over 150 Bavarian men gathered on Sunday to compete in Germany’s distinctive national championship of “Fingerhakeln,” or finger wrestling.

 

The “finger wrestlers” congregated in a large beer tent in the quaint southern village of Bernbeuren. Approximately 1,000 spectators cheered on the all-male contestants as they indulged in their national beer and savored world-famous German sausages while Bavarian live music echoed through the air.

 

Finger wrestling, a renowned competitive sport in Germany’s Alpine region and neighboring Austria, traces its roots back to settling disputes.

 

In each bout, two competitors sit on opposite sides of a sturdy table and each loop one finger — typically the middle finger — through opposite sides of a small leather loop. As soon as the referee signals the start, a contestant endeavors to swiftly pull the other across the table. Typically lasting mere seconds, occurrences of digits being dislodged are not uncommon. The victor advances to the next round.

 

“This tradition has been beloved for generations in beer houses and taverns throughout the region,” stated Marie-Therese Eierstock, the head of the Fingerhakler Gau Auerberg association, which was established in 1961 and organized this year’s championship.

 

Traditionally, only men are permitted to partake in finger-wrestling competitions.

 

At Sunday’s tournament, the youngest contender was 15 years old, while the oldest was 70, according to Eierstock.