SLOW SMOKING LEGENDS WITH SHORTER TIMES IN 2026

​The 2026 season has produced intriguing results that raise significant questions, particularly regarding some of the biggest names in the sport's history.

Shagai and Hauke during last moments of Grand Final 2018

Although these established competitors topped their respective national qualifiers, their winning times were significantly lower than usual. This performance dip has sparked widespread speculation. For instance, Hauke Walter, a three-time world champion from Germany, finished his qualifier with a time just over two hours.

Anastasia Arsenova at the CSWC Baltic 2026, where she didn’t make it past the two-hour mark.

Similarly, two-time world champion Alexander

Shegay also clocked in only barely near two and half-hour mark. Meanwhile, in Latvia, Anastasia Arsenova secured a victory, but her time was well below her personal best, with only a narrow margin separating her from the second and third-place finishers.

​These results invite the question: are these athletes' performances declining, or is there another factor at play?

​Simultaneously, we are seeing new talent emerge. Competitors from countries like Kazakhstan and Italy are delivering top-tier results, making a significant impact on the season's global top 20 list.

New Italian surprise – Mr. Saia, with a time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, has placed the Italian flag among the top five best smokers of the 2026 season so far.

Poland remains a dominant superpower, and it will be fascinating to see if any new names from Roland emerge from their ranks to threaten the established order and contend for the world title.

Poland invests heavily in its slow smoking culture. Through multiple time chase events and official training sessions, they have brought new faces with impressive times into the spotlight.

​Given these developments, we are looking forward to the Grand Final, which promises to be one of the most compelling in history. With new competitors posting impressive times and legends continuing to secure victories—albeit with slower performances—the CSWC 2026 Grand Final is set to provide the answers we are all looking for.