The world's best wine waiter has been crowned in Japan at the culmination of a three-day competition.
Paolo Basso from Switzerland was hoisted into the air as judges in Tokyo awarded him first place in a ceremony in front of several thousand spectators carried live on Japanese national television.
Basso, who works at Conca Balla in Vacallo on the Swiss-Italian border, saw off competition from fellow finalists Aristide Spies from Belgium and Canadian Vronique Rivest, AFP reports.
The 47-year-old sommelier takes the title previously held by Gerard Basset, who won the 2010 competition in Chile competing for Britain.
Entrants from 54 countries had been tested in events designed to measure their skills marrying wines to foods and serving demanding customers. All had to work in a foreign language.
The event has been held 14 times since it began in 1969.
