CSWC Croatia

The battle for the home court advantage in the Cigar Smoking World Championship final in Split in September is now over, and the winner was of no surprise. There were two favorites to the Croatian title. Ivan Zizic had made it into the top 20 as a guest smoker at CSWC London two weeks earlier with a time of 2 hours and 19 minutes and Guy Pardillos is the reigning champion.

“Competitions like this is why CSWC is so exciting,” Marko Bilic, CSWC founder, says. “Two masters who fight to the last puff. It was a truly incredible final.”

Pardillos led the race almost the entire time, with the exception of one situation in which Zizic took the lead. Pardillos quickly reclaimed the advantage, though. “A photo finish race began, with a battle of nerves and focus that only two such big players can provide,” Bilic continues.

In the end, Pardillos accomplished something that only a few national champions in the world have done. At 1 hour, 54 minutes, and 28 minutes and a margin of merely 29 seconds he successfully defended his title. However, Zizic will still compete in the World Championship final due to his top 20 time in the UK.

1. ​Guy Pardillos 1:54:28
2. Ivan Zizic 1:53:59
3. Vedran Jadresin 1:35:37