PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The world has a new Air Guitar champion — and he’s from Portland.

Rob Messel, whose stage name is The Marquis, captured the title with two electrifying performances: a first-round blues-rock effort to earn the top score and a place in the finals where all the top contestants performed air guitar to the same heavy rock song.

There was a clear winner at Rotuaari Square in Oulu, Finland.

The Marquis.

Still in shock and surfing the wave of what took place last night.

More thoughts later, but until then, I am ECSTATIC to be your 2019 Air Guitar World Champion!!#makeairnotwar #usairguitar — Rob Messel (@robmessel) August 24, 2019

“Still in shock and surfing the wave of what took place last night. More thoughts later, but until then, I am ECSTATIC to be your 2019 Air Guitar World Champion!!” Messel tweeted after winning and being awarded an actual guitar.

The Finnish crowd was into it for the entire program. Throughout, the hosts referred to the show as “the most important, obscure Finnish event in the world.”

At the end of the 2-hour event that drew air guitar players from around the world all the contestants joined on stage for a combination version of “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

Rob Messel of Portland, aka The Marquis, was crowned the Air Guitar World Champion in Finland, August 23, 2019 (AGWC2019)

Watch: The 24th Air Guitar World Championship

See both performances by The Marquis:

At 1:05 into the show and at 1:59.

KOIN 6 News will speak with The Marquis when he returns to Portland