The 24-year-old Nejc Pačnik, from the village of Škale near Velenje, is an accordion virtuoso. He masters the instrument. He has now brought the Diatonic Accordion World Championship title to Slovenia.

He has achieved everything that any accordion player can achieve on a diatonic accordion, locally known as the "frajtonarca". He swept away the competition at the ninth world championship last week, which was hosted by Slovenia for the first time.

As every other competitor, Pačnik had to put together a 10-15 minute program with three to five pieces of music. If a competitor plays too long or too short he is automatically disqualified. Pačnik stretched his accordion and played all the right notes in front of 200 people and an eight-member jury, which sees and hears everything. "It's very nerve-raking if you're not strong enough," admits Pačnik, with whom we spoke in the Ljubljana neighborhood of Trnovo.

Upon winning the title, the accordion player is now back in his normal work routine, which includes teaching five days a week across Slovenia. Pačnik says his wish is to pass on his knowledge and maybe even educate a new future world champion.