OULU, Finland (AP) — Who can play wildest on an instrument no one can see? A record 30 air guitarists from a dozen countries are jamming on a stage in northern Finland to answer just that question.

The 20th Air Guitar World Championships kicked off Thursday with 30 "dark horses" hoping to be among eight advancing to Friday's final, joining seven national champions who automatically qualify.

London architect Zac Monro, who won in 2002, is back and seeking to rekindle that "special flame that breaks the mundane." Germany's national champion Sabrina Schramm is already in the final but she's still nervous, wringing her hands as she declares she "yearns to win."

They have fierce competition from reigning world champion Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura from Japan, and legendary New Yorker Matt "Airistotle" Burns.