The 2024 Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) Grand Final, held in the stunning ballroom of the Rixos Hotel in Dubrovnik, was one for the history books
The 2024 Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) Grand Final, held in the stunning ballroom of the Rixos Hotel in Dubrovnik, was one for the history books. Not only did it mark the 15th anniversary of the championship, but it also saw Hauke Walter, the German “Iceman,” pull off another remarkable victory, cementing his place as one of the greatest slow smokers in CSWC history. His win, filled with tension and precision, broke multiple records and left an indelible mark on this milestone event.
A New Venue for a Historic Moment
The 15th anniversary edition of the CSWC was not just another competition; it was a monumental occasion set in a new venue and city. The grandeur of the Rixos Hotel in Dubrovnik, Croatia, provided the perfect backdrop for this prestigious event. The grand ballroom hosted 230 attendees, with competitors and fans from a record-breaking number of participating countries during the 2024 season. From the outset, it was clear this final would be special.
One of the key highlights was the absence of Oleg Pedan, a strong contender and one of the most celebrated CSWC champions, due to visa complications. His absence raised questions about how Walter’s path to victory might have changed, but it did not diminish the scale of his achievement.
Walter's Masterclass in Focus
As the reigning world champion and clear favorite, all eyes were on Walter. He had dominated the season with the best smoking times, except for Pedan’s performance in Belarus. But Walter’s focus and confidence, which earned him the nickname "The Iceman," were unrivaled. “Hauke Walter was simply the most focused,” remarked CSWC founder Marko Bilić. It was this unshakable concentration that set him apart from the very beginning of the competition.
However, the grand final had an unexpected twist. The CSWC organizers had secretly prepared cigars with a lower humidity level, kept at 65% instead of the usual 69%. This subtle change added a layer of complexity as many competitors, including Walter, struggled with damaged cigars from the cut.
Top contenders like Italian champion Marian Nedela, British competitor Etan Patel, and even Swedish champion Igor Kovačić found themselves in trouble early on. As the cigars burned faster due to their dryness, competitors began to falter one by one.
“The grand finale is very hard to organize,” Bilić continues. “It’s like tennis. You never know how many sets they will play, so we decided to see what happened if we provided a competition cigar which was more on the dry side.”
The Final Showdown
In a final that was shorter than previous years but packed with more excitement, the showdown boiled down to Walter and last year’s second runner-up, Anastasya Arsenova. The tension was palpable as both competitors smoked their cigars with razor-sharp focus. Borys Szkodzik, the 2022 world champion, had already been eliminated at 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 17 seconds, leaving Walter and Arsenova to battle it out.
With the crowd surrounding them and cheers filling the ballroom, it was a race to see who would crack first. Arsenova’s hands began to shake, as did Walter’s—something that had never been seen before. Despite the mounting pressure and an enthusiastic audience urging them on, Arsenova couldn’t maintain her composure. When she burned her cigar’s ring, it was all over. The penalty of 15 minutes pushed her out of the running.
In a surprising turn of events, long-time competitor Dejan Pažin of Slovenia, who had never missed a final in 15 years, secured his first-ever podium finish, taking third place. Pažin’s joy was evident as the unexpected penalty for Arsenova catapulted him onto the podium, a testament to the unpredictable excitement of CSWC competition.
A Victory for the Ages
Walter, staying true to his moniker “The Iceman,” let his cigar burn out without taking any unnecessary risks, clinching his third world championship title—a feat no other competitor has ever achieved. “Before the competition started, I told myself this was my chance to become unique,” Walter shared. His victory was indeed historic, not just for defending his title, but for becoming the first competitor to win three championships.
This year’s final was livestreamed to audiences around the world, adding to the global excitement. Bilić, the event’s founder, was thrilled with the response, noting that people from cigar lounges worldwide were watching as if it were a major sporting event. “It was like watching the Champion’s League,” he said, expressing his pride in how far the CSWC had come in 15 years.
What Lies Ahead for the CSWC?
With the 2024 grand final concluding in spectacular fashion, attention now turns to the future of the CSWC. The event’s new home in Dubrovnik was a resounding success, and Rixos Hotel has already expressed interest in hosting again. However, Bilić teased the possibility of taking the championship around Croatia or outside of country pushing the event even further out of its comfort zone. But of course, there is always chance that CSWC will be back in it's hometown of Split.
Whatever the future holds, the 2024 CSWC grand final will be remembered as a historic chapter in the slow-smoking world—a testament to the skill, determination, and composure of champions like Hauke Walter, and a celebration of a sport that continues to grow and captivate audiences around the globe.
Conclusion
Hauke Walter’s victory in Dubrovnik was a defining moment in CSWC history. His performance under pressure, the unexpected twists of the competition, and the celebration of 15 years of the championship have solidified his legacy and made the 2024 grand final an unforgettable event. As the CSWC looks to the future, this year's final sets a new standard for excitement, precision, and global appeal in the world of competitive cigar smoking.