DREW DID IT AGAIN, CLINCHING HIS 5TH USA CHAMPION TITLE AT THE CSWC BY OLIVA IN NAPLES.
It’s now clear that Drew is one of the most successful CSWC national champions ever, with an impressive streak of five USA champion titles.
Drew drove 12 hours to the Alamo Shooting Club in Naples to make history in the CSWC USA, and he did just that—breaking the record of legendary world champion and absolute icon of the sport, Darren Cioffi in front of a full club of competitors
But he wasn’t there just for the record; he came to prove to newcomers and rising stars like Nvar and Brooklyn—both of whom held top times in the USA season—that to claim the glory of the CSWC USA Champion, they first had to beat him, the legendary Drew Emch, “Burning Cowboy.”
It’s not enough to post a big time in the USA; to be champion, you must take down Drew. With a time of 2 hours and 21 minutes, Nvar, the Champion of Omaha, led the USA season and was a strong contender for the best USA time among all winners. He aimed to emerge after the final competition in Naples as the new champion.
But Drew showed up at the last slow-smoking race of the season determined to beat Nvar’s time—and he succeeded. In a tense match, Drew carefully handled his tricky Oliva competition cigar, which threatened to break its burn line and cost him precious seconds. But a video call from Nvar during the race, declaring this year’s title his, gave Drew the boost to slow down even more deliberately without losing his flame.
He not only surpassed Nvar’s time but deliberately stopped just one minute after as a message to Nvar, securing his fifth consecutive USA championship and cementing his place in history. Now Drew will proudly represent the USA in the grand final, but the twist is that Nvar will also be there, using the wild card he earned by placing in the top 20.
Even more surprising, Brooklyn, the third-best in the USA with exceptional skills, received a wild card from the CSWC organization, setting the stage for an even tougher battle for the best USA time at the grand final.
The great race at CSWC Naples saw Tony Filson taking second place, with an impressive performance by Nick Bobzien, who finished third. Last year’s Naples champion, Nicole Bennett, came in fourth, proving that her previous win was no accident.
Special honors went to Oliva sales representatives Ryan Bathurst and Tom Losch, two true gentlemen who showcased Oliva at its finest.
Christoph from Hulecos once again ensured all cigars were maintained at the same humidity level. The main judge of the Naples round and chairman of the CSWC board, the renowned Pierre Gustavsson, supervised the event together with CSWC judge USA Michael Mcmkennen . Altogether, it was a spectacular evening at the Alamo Club, which will host the CSWC again in 2027. Marko Bilic, the founder of the CSWC, joined as a special guest and commentator for this memorable slow smoking race.