Anastasia Arsenova Wins CSWC Final

Rocky Patel has been holding its annual Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) for more than a decade now. This international slow-smoking competition challenges participants to smoke their cigars as slowly as possible while keeping them lit. After penalties are calculated for infractions like breaking the ash or burning the cigar band, the competitor with the longest time wins.

Naturally, this year’s competition presented some unique obstacles. Still, Rocky Patel was able to hold everything online through 15 tournaments and the final main event. The final championship was held February 13, and it crowned a new queen of the slow smoke: Anastasia Arsenova.

Arsenova smoked the tournament’s designated cigar for an astonishing 215 minutes and 51 seconds. This impressive time landed her in third place overall for the World Championship’s entire season (known as the “Stay Strong Season”). Her placement means six Russians rank in the top 20—more than any other country.

The founder of the CSWC, Marko Bilić, celebrated the success of a 2020 season that faced several hurdles due to Covid. He also mentioned looking forward to the upcoming year, stating:

“We wanted to continue to bring to our community what CSWC always has provided—global gatherings, friendship, entertainment, excitement and fun. With the Stay Strong Season we have maintained consistency. We will adapt our concept for the 2021 season which we will announce very soon.”

It certainly is something to look forward to. Hopefully, we’ll get even more mind-boggling times like Arsenova’s.