Not quite a year ago, on June 15, 2018 Mr Darren Cioffi (USA) has broken the world record in slow smoking a cigar for the fifth time since 2014. He had achieved the longest smoking time ever (3 hours, 24 minutes and 27 seconds) in the ten year history of the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC). During the 2019 qualifier in New Jersey, Mr Cioffi beat his own record and stretched his time by almost eight minutes to 3 hours, 32 minutes and 14 seconds.
„I still can’t believe this happened. This is like a miracle,“ says the founder of CSWC and President of the Cigar Club Mareva, Mr Marko Bilić. In the past three years Mr Cioffi has competed only twice in the „slowest race on earth“. Both times he has set new world records.  Darren Cioffi confirmed his participation in the 10th Cigar Smoking World Championship on August 31, 2019 in Split/Croatia.
Mr Mose Ramieh III won the second place in the NJ qualifyer. After he had won the Nashville qualification round with a time of 2 hours and 38 minutes, many observers thought he might have had beginner’s luck. He came to New Jersey to prove his skills. He beat his previous time and finished after 2 hours and 50 minutes. This time pitchforked him to the Top 20 list. He is now the second best smoker from the U.S. Mr Ramieh also confirmed his participation in the Grand Finale in Split.
The third place went to Mr Pete Graziano, president of the legendary Metropolitan Society Cigar Club.
Marko Bilić: „We are grateful to all our partners specially to General Cigar and Macanudo Cigars our official main partner, to our timekeeper Cuervo y Sobrinos Swiss watches, Boveda humidification systems, Cigar Journal magazine and to our host Metropolitan Society Cigar Club.“