AFTER MANY YEARS - TRUE LEGEND IS BACK ON THE THORN OF THE SLOW SMOKING WORLD OF POLAND
- expertcigar
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
The 2026 CSWC by Oliva Cigars in Poland attracted many promising newcomers, but a seasoned slow-smoking veteran threw a wrench in their plans.
The 2026 season of the CSWC by Oliva Cigars in Poland was truly remarkable. With numerous prequalification and time chase events, Poland delivered outstanding results, cementing its status as the leading superpower in the slow smoking world. At times, the leaders of the top 20 list of the best smokers were all Polish, outperforming legends like Hauke Walter, Alexander Shagai, and Anastasia Arsenova.
They dominated not only in smoking times but also in representation, with four Polish competitors in the top 20. As mentioned, the only time above three hours this season belongs to a Polish smoker.
The Polish final was a true celebration of cigar culture, featuring a full day of activities—outdoor events, Oliva cigar tastings, and pairings with special drinks and beverages. There was also an excellent selection of food and much more to enjoy. The location was incredible, offering everything CSWC could need, with both outdoor and indoor spaces for an unforgettable experience.
On the competition side - national Polish Final shined with the same glory as always, featuring many new names eager to make their mark, alongside seasoned veterans of slow smoking proving that the old-school style still works perfectly. The standout was Marcin Sakowski – a long-time competitor from Poland with an impressive slow smoking career spanning over 12 years. Once again, he struck gold, claiming the title of Polish champion for the second time.
But his achievements go far beyond this result – he is among the best slow smokers in the world. Despite his modesty, the truth is he’s one of the rare smokers to have officially surpassed the three-hour mark multiple times, consistently placing in the top 5 and top 10 at grand finals, and often landing in the top 3 at Polish finals.
His place among the elite is undeniable. Now the question is – can he deliver at the grand final this year like Tomasz Żoładkiewicz did last year? Can he outperform his fellow slow smoker Tomasz, who will be there defending his world champion title? We’ll soon find out.
On the other hand, we must also count the newcomers – trained under the guidance of current world champion Tomasz, they delivered unbelievable times. Poland showed not only individual skill but also national unity in sharing knowledge and training, leading to fantastic results for second and third place.
Jakub Wojciechowski took second, and Grzegorz Cieśla claimed third, both earning spots in the top 20 and securing direct qualification for the grand final. This sets the stage for an exciting showdown – could Poland pull off a miracle this year and dominate the grand final? We’re about to find out.
