Once again, Daniel Friedenthaler proved he’s Austria’s superior slow smoker. When the national qualifier for the Cigar Smoking World Championship took place in Vienna in the middle of June he defended his title from last year and beat the competition with over an hour.

Friedenthaler, who holds 12th place in the all-time top 20, had a good night at 2 hours 33 minutes and 40 seconds. Still, he wasn’t the star of the show. It’s hard to be when the reigning champion is on the guest list.

“Hauke Walter and his wife took part in the competition in Vienna,” organizer Mirko Ivanic says. “Following the competition there was a buffet and fine drinks, and the world champion, like the gentleman he is, shared tricks and tips and funny stories with the other participants.”

Walter smoked for 3 hours 35 minutes and 10 seconds, and his wife Astrid Walter finished at 2 hours 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

Runner-up in Austria this year was Andrea Palmer, who smoked for 1 hour 23 minutes and 40 seconds, about three and a half minutes ahead of Ali Iravani in third place.

Daniel Friedenthaler 2:33:40
Andrea Palmer 1:23:40
Ali Iravani 1:20:15

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