If you’re a cigar enthusiast, you may have heard whispers about the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC)—the world’s biggest slow smoking competition. But what exactly is it?
The CSWC is a global event where competitors from over 50 countries participate in national heats, aiming for the ultimate goal: a place in the world final in Croatia. This isn’t just about winning—it’s about the cigar community, meeting extraordinary people, and embracing the art of slow smoking.
What are the rules?
The official rules are as follows:
- Each participant selects a competition cigar from a provided box.
- Competitors receive a cigar cutter and two long matches.
- One minute is given for preparation (cutting & lighting).
- No relighting is allowed after the initial lighting.
- For the first 5 minutes, no talking or drinking is permitted.
- The cigar must be smoked up to the competition ring—burning past it results in penalty points.
- Dropping or shaking off the ash results in penalty points—no dropping of the ash for the first 40 minutes!
- Smoking ends when the cigar goes out or reaches the competition ring.
The last person remaining with their cigar still lit is declared the winner.
Last year, Hauke Walter of Germany emerged victorious, smoking the Rocky Patel Mareva cigar for almost 2 hours and 52 minutes.
The UK heats are here!
The UK’s journey to the world final kicks off with a series of competitions across the country, from London to Liverpool, Kent, and even Cornwall. If you’re interested in testing your slow smoking skills, now is the time to get involved!
My experience: The “Retro Smoke” pre-season event
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the first pre-season “Retro Smoke” event at one of London’s newest cigar lounges, FUMAR, in Shepherd Market, London (Check out my review of this venue from last year).
Credit: Mariana
This special event was aimed to recreate the early years of CSWC, bringing together cigar lovers for an unforgettable evening of slow smoking.
The competition details:
Competition cigar: Montecristo No.4 (one of the original CSWC cigars)
Judges:
- Sarah Saunders – Vice Head International Judge
- David Bruce Taylor – UK Judge
Entry Fee: £45 (included a cigar, welcome drink, truffle & pecorino nuts, chocolates, and water)
Mystery Prize: A special cigar from FUMAR owner Eisa Rasti’s collection
The Winner: Paresh Patel (@ Havana House) – an impressive 1 hour 37 minutes!
I personally lasted 52 minutes and 45 seconds, and while I didn’t win, it was an incredible experience. The CSWC community is truly something special, and I can’t wait for the official heats to begin!
If you’ve been following this blog, you may remember that last year, by attending one of these events, I embarked on my own cigar journey.
This experience led me to visit Croatia, where I met the wonderful Marko Bilic, the founder of the competition, as well as members of its cigar community.
Read my reports from the heats, to the UK finals and my adventure across Croatia.
The new CSWC competition cigar by Oliva
A big update for 2025: Oliva has created an all-new official competition cigar.
The ring design features a globe, symbolizing the worldwide unity of CSWC competitors. A secondary band at the foot proudly marks it as the official CSWC Oliva cigar.
Inspired by Oliva’s prestigious Melanio and Serie V lines, the cigars are housed in thick wooden boxes with a light wood tone, featuring bold Oliva and CSWC logos. Inside, each cigar is wrapped in branded Oliva CSWC paper, adding an extra touch of exclusivity.
Competition prizes haven’t been announced yet but they’re usually pretty decent! With some brilliant sponsors of the event.
Upcoming UK events & how to get involved
More CSWC UK 2025 heats will be announced soon at top cigar venues across the country. Keep an eye on @cswc_uk and @cswcnews for updates.
The world final will take place in Split, Croatia, at the end of August—a spectacular 3-4 day event that even spectators can attend! More details of that will also be announced
Final thoughts…
This isn’t just a competition—it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the cigar community, gain access to exclusive venues, and experience the thrill of slow smoking at an affordable cost.
With the new Oliva CSWC cigar launching which should be ready in April, now is the perfect time to get involved. So, will you take on the challenge?
Follow @cswc_uk and cswcnews.com for event updates and get ready to slow smoke your way to glory!
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