CSWC BY OLIVA CIGARS: A NEW KING OF ROMANIA RISES AS THE SLOW SMOKING DYNASTY IS SHAKEN
- expertcigar
- Aug 2
- 2 min read
In a dramatic shake-up of Romania’s slow-smoking hierarchy, Felix Matei’s four-year reign as national champion has finally come to an end.
And like any great sports upset, it happened when few expected it.
Matei, long seen as the untouchable titan of Romanian slow smoking — even setting a national record of 2 hours, 34 minutes, and 15 seconds just two years ago — was forced to pass the torch in this year’s Cigar Smoking World Championship by Oliva Cigars qualifier, held at ZaZ Asian Fusion in the Holiday Inn Bucharest.
The new king? Robert Ionescu, who didn’t just claim victory — he earned it in a gritty, neck-and-neck duel that tested focus, strategy, and patience under pressure. Ionescu’s time of 2 hours and 4 minutes was just enough to edge out Ştefan Moroşanu, who finished only two minutes behind.
Organizer Radu-Alexandru Cucuta, who finished a respectable fifth, confirmed that this edition marked a turning point:
“The event registered the largest number of participants in Romanian CSWC history, with 23 competitors. It was a real championship atmosphere.”
For Matei, it wasn’t just a rare third-place finish — it was a warning shot that the field is evolving fast. Even Lucian Laza, the runner-up for two consecutive years, was penalized three minutes that ultimately cost him a podium spot.
The new Oliva Mareva cigar, officially introduced to the global CSWC circuit this season, may have added a layer of unfamiliarity, tripping up even seasoned veterans. Last year’s bronze medalist, Manuel Aelenei, was among the first out, bowing out in a shocking 15 minutes.
But that’s the beauty of the CSWC: every puff counts, every second is earned. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, the game changes.
With Ionescu now wearing the crown, the question is: how far can he go on the world stage in Split? And will Matei come back stronger in 2026?
One thing’s for sure — Romania’s road to the CSWC Grand Final just got a lot more interesting.