CSWC BY OLIVA CIGARS BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: IVAN KRIŠTO TRIUMPHS AFTER AN EPIC BATTLE IN SARAJEVO
- expertcigar
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Club Mareva Sarajevo welcomed competitors for Bosnia & Herzegovina's second national championship, where endurance, precision, and sportsmanship defined a memorable day from the first draw to the final celebration.
Bosnia & Herzegovina hosted its second-ever CSWC by Oliva Cigars National Championship, bringing together the country's growing community of slow-smoking enthusiasts at Club Mareva Sarajevo, located within the luxurious Apeiro City Avant-garde Hotel. The venue, owned by Đorđe Jugović, once again proved to be a perfect setting for a championship that combined competition, hospitality, and celebration.
The day unfolded in three carefully curated stages. Guests first gathered on the hotel's panoramic terrace for a welcome drink, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere before the competition began. The championship itself took place inside Club Mareva's elegant cigar lounge, while the evening concluded back on the terrace with a DJ party that kept competitors and guests together long after the final results were announced.
Competitors entered this year’s championship, bringing together a mix of seasoned smokers and eager newcomers ready to challenge themselves in one of the toughest cigar disciplines in the world.
As has become increasingly common this season, several competitors faced cigars that demanded exceptional control. Slow smoking pushes every cigar to its absolute limits, and under those extreme conditions even the smallest mistake - or the slightest inconsistency in the burn, can dramatically change the course of a competition. Managing an imperfectly burning cigar is often what separates experienced competitors from the rest.
No one demonstrated that better than Ivan Krišto.
Throughout the afternoon, Krišto found himself in a tense duel with Đorđe Jugović, with the two pulling away from the rest of the field as the competition progressed. Despite struggling with a difficult-burning cigar for much of the championship, Krišto never lost his composure.
For most of the final stages, Jugović appeared to have the upper hand. His cigar was burning more favourably, leaving him with slightly more tobacco to work with. However, earlier in the competition he had received a five-minute penalty after accidentally dropping his ash, an error that would later prove decisive.
As the clock approached 1 hour and 45 minutes, the tension inside Club Mareva reached its peak. Krišto had already begun carefully tunnelling his cigar in an effort to keep it alive when, unexpectedly, Jugović raised his hand.
His cigar had gone out.
With his closest rival eliminated, Krišto continued smoking for another two minutes before calling his time, securing the national title and earning the honour of representing Bosnia & Herzegovina at the CSWC Grand Finale 2026, taking place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, later this month.
The fight for third place delivered drama of its own.
At 1:14:00, Muhamed chose to stop the clock rather than risk reaching the band and receiving costly penalty minutes. Across the table, however, Ćiplaković faced a completely different challenge.
Having already accumulated a 15-minute penalty for dropping his ash earlier in the competition, he knew he needed to smoke until at least 1:29:00 to move ahead after penalties were applied.
Already tunnelling his cigar and attempting the technique for the very first time - Ćiplaković pushed himself through obvious exhaustion. With burning lips and an increasingly fragile cigar, he refused to surrender. Every second mattered.
When he finally stopped the clock at 1:29:10, his adjusted time became 1:14:10, just enough to secure an incredible third-place finish.
The championship ended with a moment that perfectly reflected the spirit of the CSWC community.
Although finishing as runner-up, Đorđe Jugović chose to give his prizes to the newcomers competing in their first championship. It was a gesture that earned admiration from everyone present and once again demonstrated the hospitality for which both he and Apeiro City Avant-garde Hotel are known.
The evening concluded with a beautifully prepared buffet served at the main table, created by renowned Croatian Michelin-starred chef Mario Mandarić. His cuisine provided a fitting finale to a championship that delivered outstanding competition, genuine camaraderie, and an unforgettable experience for everyone who gathered in Sarajevo.
From the welcome drinks on the terrace to the final celebration under the evening sky, the second edition of CSWC by Oliva Cigars Bosnia & Herzegovina showed that the country's slow-smoking tradition continues to grow stronger, with new talent emerging and the community becoming even more united with each passing year.