In 2022, Kuwait entered the Cigar Smoking World Championship. It became a close race with exclusively first time competitors and in the end Sary Aboudaya beat Ahmed Aljery by two minutes, securing the title as the first Kuwaiti slow smoking champion. After a two-year hiatus, Kuwait now has a new champion.
On a warm evening in Kuwait City, under the golden light of the Cabinet Cigar Lounge chandeliers, an even more dramatic race took place. Bader Alseeba, who was in the lead at one point, had to concede to both Hassan Altamimi and Salah Alrasheedi in the end. But not by much. Alseeba’s finishing time of 1 hour 44 minutes and 38 seconds wasn’t even a minute behind that of Alrasheedi, and just five minutes shorter than Altamimi’s. Already celebrated for his second-place finish in the Habanos World Championship Finals in Havana, and as winner of the Habanos Sommelier Contest Kuwait, Altamimi now added a new title to his already impressive legacy. At 1 hour 49 minutes and 35 seconds, Altamimi became the second Kuwaiti champion in history.
“This man understands tobacco in a way few do,” CSWC founder Marko Bilić says. “He has the knowledge, but he also understands combustion, rhythm, and the psychology of slow smoking. He’s one of the most complete smokers I’ve ever seen.”
The event was judged by Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars, a former top competitor turned certified CSWC by Oliva Cigars judge, and Dino Tomić, official CSWC instructor, in a lounge that truly impressed the founder.
“I’ve been fortunate to visit lounges across the world,” he says. “But Cabinet is among the most beautiful and welcoming I’ve ever stepped into. It earned high praise from international guests and captures everything we value in this culture; style, warmth, and a deep respect for the cigar.”
- Hassan Altamimi 1:49:35
- Salah Alrasheedi 1:45:31
- Bader Alseeba 1:44:38
