Emch Won 4th US CSWC

”Every draw, every second, and every venue will matter.”

That’s how Cigar Smoking World Championship founder, Marko Bilic, commentated the choice to have three individual qualifiers in the US, with no final. The person with best time out of the three competitions was going to be crowned champion, and in the end we were left with no surprise. But it started with one.

After an opening ceremony, featuring Laure Boisbouvier, marketing director of Oliva Cigars, the participants at the Alamo Gun Range Club in Naples, Florida, were the first ones to light up the Oliva Mareva tournament cigars on American soil.

“The setting couldn’t have been more fitting,” Bilic says. “A premium private gun club where accuracy and control are a way of life.”

After a night of unpredictable turnarounds and a final stretch, Nicole Bennett emerged as the champion of the night when she held on for 1 hour and 35 minutes.

“As a first-time competitor she stunned the crowd, winning with a calm and focused burn. Her dominance in the final phase left no doubt. She’s here to contend for much more than local honors this season.”

Second and third place went to Mario Ouct and Conor Dunn.

“The Alamo Naples event set the tone for an unforgettable USA season of CSWC,” Bilic concludes. “Quality over quantity, with every second, every puff, and every detail counting toward the ultimate goal; a ticket to the Grand Final in Split, Croatia.”

The second stop on the US circuit was at the luxurious Capital Cigar Lounge Lincoln. Nebraska, one of Bilic’s favorite events on the circuit.

“A huge part of this event’s success was the hospitality and spirit of Anthony Goins, the lounge’s owner and a pillar of the Nebraska cigar community. His dedication to the CSWC mission and his warm welcome to guests made the Lincoln qualifier one of the season’s most memorable.”

Just like the evening in Naples, this competition delivered unexpected twists, with early leaders exiting and a dramatic reshuffling of the leader board. In the end Eddie Lankas grabbed the number one spot, but when his cigar went out after 1 hour 42 minutes and 46 seconds, he wasn’t immediately declared the winner. Can Ceyhan was still left in the game, but with a penalty for losing the ash looming over him they both faced a potentially excruciating final ten minutes. However, it only took another 34 seconds before Ceyhan’s cigar burned out as well, leaving Lankas with the win and himself in third place after Moe McTalyn.

The final race was held at the cigar parlour At the Earth’s End in Princeton, New Jersey, and it featured both defending American champion Drew Emch and former champion Christina Bartnikowski. The two of them fought it out at last year’s final when Bartnikowksi made her comeback, finishing within half a minute of each other with Emch claiming his third national title in the end. This year the distance between them was a lot bigger, as Emch won his fourth championship in a row.

“With Emch facing pressure from rising star Eddie Lankas and Bartnikowski, the competition buzzed with energy,” Bilic says. “But he delivered under pressure, defending his title with a powerful two hour performance.”

He could’ve gone on for longer, though.

“He said he’s keeping the real surprise for the grand final.”

The question is if he can put his money where his mouth is this time, because he said the same thing in 2023, and that time he finished 10^th.

Third place went to John Cerminard, who was just three minutes behind Bartnikowoski.

“With thrilling battles, surprise champions, and a bold new competitive format, the 2025 US CSWC tour didn’t just raise the bar,” Bilic concludes. “It redefined excellence in slow smoking.”

1. Drew Emch 2:00:00
2. Eddie Lankas 1:42:46
3. Christina Bartnikowski 1:37:42