Ready, set, pull: two competitors face off during the 60th annual Bavarian finger wrestling championship

The sport consists in two competitors pulling a small leather band with one finger — until one of them has pulled the other player over the table.

Also known as Fingerhakeln, it is traditional in Bavaria and Austria and dates back to the 17th century. Most players use their middle fingers, and train themselves by crushing tennis balls and doing pull-ups using only their fingers.

No ‘arm in it: Toni Bader exercises with an elastic strap


The competitors are matched in class according to age and weight, and are then placed at a purpose-built table across from one another. For the competition they dress in traditional Bavarian clothing including lederhosen, a hat, and hand-knitted socks. 

He’s a pull-over: Bavarian middle weight champion Toni Bader (l) celebrates after winning against Fischer


Toni Bader of Oberammergau became the new Bavarian middle weight champion after beating vice champion Korbinian Fischer of Bad Kohlgrub. The competition took place in Feldkirchen-Westerham in Bavaria.

Victorious: Toni Bader and Korbinian Fischer celebrate after the final fight


However, there was no bad blood between the competitors: Bader and Fischer celebrated in style together as they were hoisted up on the shoulders of their fellow competitors.