CSWC BY OLIVA BALTIC BROUGHT FAMOUS NAME BACK INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
- expertcigar
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The CSWC Baltic gathered the best smokers from across the Baltic region for the second edition of the regional competition.
It’s true—he’s back. Indeed, he is. Although his time wasn't among his best, he secured the title against some of the region's top smokers, who are also among the best worldwide. His name is legendary—Alexander Shagai.
Twice a world champion and an impressive competitor with remarkable records, he has returned, no doubt about it. Here is the report from CSWC Baltica and how it unfolded.
On June 20, 2026, the second open Baltic Region Slow Smoking Cigar Championship was held at the welcoming "19/72" lounge, which combines the traditions of classic cigar lounges with modern comfort, technology, and a wide selection of fine cigars.
Thanks to the hospitality and support of owner Anton Kuzmin, the Horsepower Cigar Club hosted this event, serving as the national qualifier for the CSWC. This event was made possible by the kind support of the CSWC Association, its president Marko Bilic, and the regional distributor of the Oliva brand, Fortuna Cigar House.
The tournament's cigar, as in the previous year, was the elegant CSWC Oliva Mareva, delighting participants with its superb flavor balance, rolling quality, and excellent tournament characteristics. The competition was strictly overseen by two international CSWC judges, Dmitry Nokhrin and Dmitry Drutsa, ensuring professional refereeing and a highly competitive event.
The event featured the Baltic region's strongest competitors—Aleksandr Shagai, Anastasia Arsenova, Andrey Leontyev, and Sergey Galevsky. As usual, they delivered impressive results. Anastasia Arsenova, who had previously won the Latvian tournament, competed in the individual event, but her luck didn't allow her to achieve a result comparable to her previous records. Her cigar went out at 1:41:37.
Coincidentally, another competitor, Daniil Smirnov, also exited at that moment, having smoked his cigar down to the band. Andrey Leontyev, a finalist at the 2023 CSWC tournament, also faced bad luck that day as his cigar went out before the first hour. However, Aleksandr Shagai and Sergey Galevsky secured their places in the top three! Sergey finished third, receiving a one-minute penalty for dropping cigar ash before the first 40 minutes and clocked 2:05:58. The competition confirmed that even in cigar sports, unpredictability reigns, and Lady Luck can favor both seasoned athletes and newcomers!
The dark horse and second-place finisher was Oleg Grinovsky, a member of the "Connoseur" Cigar Club and a relative newcomer to slow smoking. His result was astonishing—2:18:27! Yet, the veteran Alexander Shagai proved unbeatable! The three-time world champion's time was more modest than his past achievements but still impressive—2:27:30!
All participants showcased exceptional slow smoking skills, endurance, and a strong will to win! Thirteen people competed, including Alexey Cherepkov from the "Epicure" Cigar Club, who took fourth place! Alexey rarely competes, smoking casually, and this ease allowed him to achieve a very respectable result of 1:56:14.
Guests and participants enjoyed wonderful drinks from our alcohol sponsor, Ladoga Trading House, represented by the charming Oksana Dovzhuk, who congratulated the winners with premium alcohol prizes. Athletes received wonderful gifts from the CSWC and its sponsors: Oliva, St. Dupont, DeArt, Bosquet, Damat, Cuervo & Sobrinos, and Boveda! Representatives of the regional distributor of Oliva cigars, Cigar House Fortuna, witnessed the competitors' journey and attended the awards ceremony.
The gracious venue owner, Anton Kuzmin, prepared an incredibly generous prize for the winner—a box of superb cigars! The athletes also received special prizes from the Horse Power Cigar Club and local chocolatier Baccarat. The event was held in an atmosphere of joy, inspiration, and fun, characteristic of the cigar fraternity!
We congratulate all participants on their excellent results and wish Oleg Grinovsky good luck in Dubrovnik at the upcoming Grand Final, as Alexander Shagai, unable to travel to Croatia on the dates, has delegated the right to participate in the Final! I am confident that Oleg, who secured second place with an excellent result, will represent the Baltics with dignity on the international stage!