In celebration of its 10th anniversary this year, the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC) will be hosting a qualification event at Astor Bar, St Regis, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, March 16.
The glamorous event, the first of the season, is brought by the local Trinidad Cigar Company. Previous Asian qualification events have been held in Bangkok and Saigon.
Speaking about the event, Indera Naresh Mohan, Trinidad Cigar CEO said, “It is an honour to bring the Cigar Smoking World Championship to Kuala Lumpur. There are tremendous prizes up for grabs, including an entry ticket to the Grand Final.”
As for the curious, he said, “The event itself will be a celebration of cigar culture and will be a great spectacle, so I invite those who are not participating to come and watch the event.”
Founded and hosted by Croatian Marko Bilic, CSWC is a global luxury lifestyle event with over 35 qualification rounds in cities around the world, and which culminates in a grand final in Split, Croatia in September.
To win the CWSC, competitors must smoke the Macanudo Inspirado Mareva, a Mareva sized-cigar (42 x 5 1/8) for as long as possible.
The cigar must stay lit the entire time and the extinguishing of the flame will dash any hopes of victory.
The Macanudo Inspirado Mareva has been specifically and meticulously designed for the CSWC to ensure every participant has an equal chance of winning.
The current CSWC Champion, Hauke Walter of Germany, won in the 2018 Grand Final after smoking for two hours, 48 minutes and eight seconds.
His record however, is eclipsed by that of the World Record Holder, Darren Cioffi of the US, who has an unbeaten time of three hours, 24 minutes.
Perhaps the next record-breaker will unexpectedly emerge from the Malaysian cigar community?
The CSWC will begin at 7pm on Saturday, March 16 and the limited entry tickets, which will be sold on a first come, first served basis, costs RM285.
Those wishing to watch the event are more than welcome to attend, enjoy the drinks and cigars, and cheer on their favourites.
First prize is a US$3,500 Cuervo y Sobrinos Swiss watch, second prize a US$500 Les Fine Lames cigar cutter, and third prize a ST Dupont lighter.
Other prizes include Boveda Humidification Sensors and products provided by Macanudo Cigars.
Those interested in participating should email [email protected] for booking information.