Precision and Patience in Oslo as the 2025 CSWC Season Opens
- expertcigar
- May 8
- 3 min read
Augusto Cigar Lounge hosts the second qualification tournament with the New Official Oliva CSWC Cigar
By Zoran Pejovic
The slowest and perhaps most contemplative sport on earth opened its 2025 season in style last night in Oslo. Hosted in the atmospheric and rustic Augusto Cigar Lounge, the second qualification tournament for the 16th Cigar Smoking World Championship began the road to the finals, which will take place in Split from August 29 to 31 this year.
Under the careful stewardship of Øystein Kleven, owner of Augusto Cigar, and General Manager André Veiby, the tournament was executed with precision. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged. From welcome and check-in through lighting to the final quiet moments of extinguished embers, the evening reflected a level of organization that allowed participants to fully focus on the delicate task at hand.
The setting could hardly have been more fitting. Hidden in one of Oslo's oldest cellars, Augusto's lounge embraces its rustic charm. Vaulted ceilings painted in creamy white arc gently above deep Chesterfield armchairs, creating a space that is both characterful and inviting. It is a room that encourages stillness and concentration, where minutes seem to stretch and tension dissolves into the quiet hum of shared ritual.
This tournament (with Danish qualifier almost in same time) also marked the introduction of the new official cigar of the Cigar Smoking World Championship, produced by Oliva Cigars. Unveiled at the global gathering in Split on April 24, this cigar features a Nicaraguan filler and binder with an Ecuadorian wrapper. Its medium body leans towards the sweeter side, offering no harshness or acidity. Designed with competitive smoking in mind, it rewards precision and control over power.
Still, even with these thoughtful characteristics, almost every competitor encountered the same challenge. Canoeing, or burning more heavily on one side, became a common issue, most likely due to the cigars being relatively fresh. This added an extra layer of difficulty and contributed to shorter overall smoking times compared with previous years. Each cigar was standardized to around 9 grams of tobacco and maintained at 63 percent humidity, ensuring consistency across the field.
In the end, Tormod Skaaraas once again proved his mastery on home ground. His time of 2 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds earned him a third consecutive victory at the Oslo qualifiers. His personal record, however, remains from 2023 when he surpassed the three and a half hour mark. He was followed by Brede Rørhus and Rolf Broch, with my own effort earning fifth place at 2 hours 11 minutes and 55 seconds.
The evening unfolded with a sense of calm, shaped by typical Norwegian discipline and adherence to the rules, where sportsmanship and respect for the craft were as evident as the quiet plumes of smoke filling the vaulted cellar. Oslo reaffirmed its place on the global CSWC calendar with a tournament that combined thoughtful organization and a setting rich in atmosphere and tradition. For all of us gathered, the path to Split began with focus, patience, and shared respect for the slowest game in sport.
Zoran Pejović is a Split-based global hospitality and brand development advisor, wine expert and cigar aficionado. A founding member of Cigar Club Mareva and a dedicated competitor at the Cigar Smoking World Championship since 2013, he brings a strategic perspective shaped by years in the luxury hotel and experiential travel industries to the slow art of competitive smoking.
