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Top Mus players from France, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, the Basque Country, as well as two teams each from Spain and the US and, for the first time ever this year, Peru came head-to-head this September playing twelve games over eight days in a bid to come world champions.

Many of those competing had roots in the Basque Country - Antonio Arratibel Jauregui and Mariano Larrañaga Lasarte from Spain; Jose Lasa and Pedro Altuna from Australia, to name just four - but ultimately none were a match for Biscay couple Antonio Vicente and Angel Rivero, who sealed Euskadi''s status as world champions at Mus for a third year running.

More than three decades have passed since Pierre Etcharren, General Secretary of NABO(North American Basque Organisations) first had the idea of a Mus competition that would include teams from the US. Until then, tournaments took place but between teams from both sides of Euskal Herria.

One year later, in 1978, Etcharren''s tournament was so popular it officially became the International Mus Tournament, welcoming champion couples from around the globe.

Card playing aside, this year''s tournament represented an amazing opportunity for its participants. A full schedule was on offer, of which Mus formed just one part.

Excursions were organised to Hollywood - including a trip to Universal Studios - and Las Vegas, and most days the schedule included lunch and dinner.

Proceedings came to an end with the Euskal Etxea''s traditional Labor Day picnic, or Chino Basque Festival, which included a Basque Mass and Besta Berri, "Mutxikoak" Basque dancers and klika.