FRANCESCO SAIA WINS THE ITALIAN FINAL OF THE CIGAR SMOKING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BY OLIVA CIGARS
- expertcigar
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
On 27 June 2026, the Italian Final of the Cigar Smoking World Championship took place at the prestigious Villa Damat in Bologna, marking one of the most eagerly awaited events of the national slow-smoking season.
Villa Damat, home to one of the CSWC's international sponsors, welcomed the many competitors who had travelled to Bologna to compete for the title of Italian champion. The competition was the highlight of a particularly eventful day, which began with welcome tastings and continued with a buffet lunch served at the villa.
First place was claimed by Francesco Saia, who delivered an outstanding performance and recorded a final time of 2 hours, 30 minutes and 15 seconds. This remarkable result allowed him to finish well ahead of the other competitors and secure the Italian championship title.
Marian Nedelea finished in second place with a time of 1 hour, 52 minutes and 11 seconds, while Flavio Gola took the third step of the podium after completing his smoke in 1 hour, 18 minutes and 8 seconds.
Anna Gargiulo also produced an excellent performance, finishing fourth with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 19 seconds. Anna attended the event together with her husband, Gino Iannillo, the Italian ambassador of the Cigar Smoking World Championship.
The competition was supervised by judges Alberto Mancinelli, Fabio Ventura and Aurelio Tufano, who carefully followed every stage of the event. The final was conducted in an extremely fair and orderly manner, with no significant irregularities and no major penalties. Despite the concentration and strict observance of the rules required during a national final, all the competitors took part in a cheerful, relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The event was also attended by several representatives from the cigar industry and from the championship's sponsors. Among those present were Marco and Francesca from Cuervo y Sobrinos, as well as Pasquale Sicilia, representing Oliva and Vandermarliere Cigar Family. Many friends and cigar enthusiasts also came to Villa Damat to watch the competition and support the participants, helping to make the atmosphere of the final even warmer and more enjoyable.
The competition was followed by the awards ceremony, during which the new Italian champion, the other top finishers and all those who had taken part in the Italian CSWC season were celebrated.
The day concluded with a dinner at Il Botteghino, the home of a Bologna cigar club, where competitors, judges, sponsors and friends were able to celebrate together and once again share the passion for cigars that represents the true spirit of the Cigar Smoking World Championship.
The Bologna final therefore confirmed not only the high standard achieved by Italy's leading competitors, but also the CSWC's ability to bring together competition, friendship and conviviality in one memorable day dedicated to the world of cigars.