Tomasz Zolodkiewich - THE BIGGEST COMEBACK IN CSWC HISTORY!

His CSWC career started a decade ago, marked by major achievements and a few notable setbacks. There's no denying that he has cemented his legacy in CSWC history as one of the all-time greats.

Tomasz at the Grand Final 2017, standing just next to the Swedish Tiger (on the right).

Tomasz ZOLODKIEWICH is a name closely associated with the history and presence of the CSWC. He is undoubtedly one of the most significant figures in CSWC history, having distinguished himself through pivotal moments in his career and within the CSWC timeline. Notably, when he participated in the CSWC in Poland over a decade ago, he won the first-ever qualification event in Poland. This victory established him as a formidable competitor during a period dominated by some of the greatest, such as Darren Chiffi, Oleg Pedan, Alexander Shagai, and others. Tomasz, with his skill and gentlemanly demeanor, faced these prominent names and consistently delivered impressive performances.

Darren Cioffi and Oleg Pedan, two absolute legends with complete domination during that time.

One of his biggest achievements was breaking the "unreachable line" of three hours in slow smoking, a feat once considered impossible by the cigar world and the CSWC global community. At the time, world records ranged between two hours and 30 to 40 minutes, often set by Cioffy, Pedan, or the Swedish Tiger, Kovacic. His success was a historic moment for CSWC, proving that the small Corona-sized cigar could reach such limits. It was both a personal victory for Thomas and a memorable milestone for the CSWC. Throughout his career, he also faced near misses, coming close to the world championship title twice but losing to Oleg Pedan once and Mirko Giotto from Switzerland another time.

Tomasz receiving the trophy for second place as Vice Champion of the World 2016 from Marko Bilic, founder of CSWC.

Despite being a favorite in 2019, Thomas retired from the CSWC after the grand final, overwhelmed by the immense pressure and his inability to claim the world title. He later became a top instructor, mentoring new talent in Poland and sharing his expertise in slow smoking, which has played a significant role in maintaining Poland's leading position in the CSWC world.

Super skilled Tomasz, who was the first to break the 3-hour mark, later became a top instructor for Polish slow smokers.

In 2025, when Oliva joined as an official partner, Thomas made an incredible comeback, marking one of the greatest returns in CSWC history. After taking a break, he reappeared as a dominant force, winning the grand final and claiming the world champion title.

Finally, in 2025, Tomasz claimed the title of the best in the world.

This feat was particularly remarkable given the reign of the legendary Hauke Walter, who was seen as unbeatable. Thomas's victory proved to the global CSWC community that he is still a powerhouse, and even after silence, his comebacks are always unforgettable.