CSWC BY OLIVA KAZAHSTAN BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND BROUGHT AMAZING SUPRISES
- expertcigar
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Not only has the CSWC by Oliva Kazakhstan grown into a small international festival with an amazing program, but it has also served as a qualifier with top results.
The 2026 CSWC Kazakhstan Championship was held at one of the oldest restaurants in the very heart of Almaty.
More than 30 participants took part in this year’s tournament, with 13 smoking for over an hour and one successfully passing the two-hour mark. For the second consecutive year, Igor Titievskiy was crowned Kazakhstan Champion, setting a personal best time of 2:25:13. Second place went to Yerzhan Taipov with a time of 1:46:40, finishing just 26 seconds ahead of Elena Tronina (1:46:14).
The aficionado gathering lasted over eight hours, with the tournament itself serving as the centerpiece of the event. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed a presentation on Cuervo y Sobrinos watches by Mario Girardi, who flew to Almaty specifically for the occasion.
The program also featured a whiskey and rum tasting, a sampling of mature cheeses from local Kazakhstani producers, and the history behind the creation of Trinidad La Trova cigars, presented by La Casa Del Habano Almaty.
Additionally, attendees learned many fascinating facts about pipe making from Polish master Darek Jacek. The evening concluded with a wonderful dinner and magnificent desserts. The featured cigars of the evening were the Cuervo y Sobrinos Perfecto and the Trinidad La Trova.
Tournament guests who traveled in to spend a few days in Almaty also explored the region's stunning nature. They visited the beautiful reserves of Lakes Kolsai and Kaindy, as well as the Charyn Canyon—which rivals the beauty of the Grand Canyon in the US—and climbed Mount Shymbulak, reaching an elevation of over 3,000 meters.
