Their facial hair coiffed into everything from the famous pencil-stache to geometrical goaties, the contenders contoured their facial hair to compete in one of three categories; moustache, chin and stubble beard, and full beard.
The bearded men came from 20 countries, showing off a spectacular array of moustaches, goatees, mutton chops and beards that would put Gandalf to shame.
Winners included contestants from Germany, Austria, USA, Hungary and France.
Rediff.com takes a look at this wacky world of dazzling facial hair.
A contestant of the World Beard and Moustache Championships poses for a picture during the opening ceremony of the Championships 2015 in Leogang, Austria. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
Over 300 contestants in teams from across the globe have come to compete in sixteen different categories in three groups: moustache, partial beard and full beard. The event takes place every few years at different locations worldwide. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
An elaborately bearded man at the World Beard Championships in Austria. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
A contestant in the full beard category at the World Beard Championships in Austria. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
Contestants display their curls and coifs. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
A contestant of the World Beard and Moustache Championships poses for a picture during the opening ceremony of the Championships 2015 in Leogang, Austria. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
An auburn haired contestant curled his beard into figure of 8 swirls. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
This man's two-foot long beard put the hipster beard trend to shame. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
This man's beard is totally gangsta. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
One contestant kept twisting his beard like an surreal Möbius loop. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
A contestant boasts thick chops. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
One contestant poses for a picture. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
One contestant interspersed a fully bearded 'do with several tendrilly sections that curled amid the facial fuzz. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
Boy that's one long beard. Photograph: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
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