Amateur singers from across the globe have competed in the finals of the World Karaoke Championships.

The three-day competition attracted 31 competitors from Finland, Russia, Australia, USA, Ireland, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Austria, Canada, Latvia, Germany, Faroe Islands and other countries.

They were competing for two record deals, in men's and women's contests, as well as a chance to shoot to stardom.

A few hundred spectators followed the show sitting at round tables in the concert hall, dozens moved to the stage to support the singers with applause and flag-waving as the contestants from their native countries were performing.

Luke Kelly, who was named Australia's best karaoke singer in July this year, hoped to become the fourth Australian to win the title, as Australians had been named best in the world three times in the past five years.

Although he qualified to the final he did not manage to win a title for Australia this time.

Finland's Maria Saarimaa-Ylitalo was announced the winner of the women's contest. She stressed her amateur credentials: "The only singing lessons I've been taking are the five lessons before we came here. So, that's all the singing lessons I've got."

Maria's compatriot, Sam Moudden, won the men's contest. He told journalists: "It was too hard, it was very hard, it's the very special day in my life."

A technician for an American telephone company won the top prize of one million Russian dumplings.

Edward Pimentel earned the unusual prize after getting the most votes from audience members.

The championships were crowned with the contestants lining up on stage to sing Michael Jackson's "We Are the World."