Marcin Sakowski Wins CSWC Poland

One of the most anticipated qualification rounds of the Cigar Smoking World Championship is the one in Poland. With five names in the Top 20 of all times and a starting field including world record holder Klaudia Ide, the 2022 world champion Borys Szkodziak, the 2024 Polish champion Adam Charchut and last year’s number seven at the grand final in Split, Marcin Sakowski, the stage was set for some severe slow smoking action.

“The top Polish aficionados took part in the competition, as well as many new faces who dream of the title of Polish Free Cigar Smoking Champion,” organizer and judge, Marcin Lewandowski, says.

Ide baffled everyone last year, when she smoked for 3 hours 53 minutes and 9 seconds, thereby beating Igor Kovacic’s world record by a mere 14 seconds. Although she couldn’t reiterate her performance in the grand final she finished 6th, four minutes ahead of her countryman, Marcin Sakowski. Szkodziak, on the other hand, failed to defend his title when he was out after just an hour. A safe guess is he’s out for revenge.

These four were also the top four in this year’s qualifier, which took place as a part of a garden party at M&P Nadwiślańska 108 on the outskirts of Warsaw. Out of 25 participants the quartet outsmoked the rest by almost an hour, and in the end it was a very tight race. At least between place two to four. First one out was defending champion Charchut at 2 hours 22 minutes and 50 seconds. One and a half minute later Szkodziak followed suit and one minute and 20 seconds after that Ide was done for the day. That only left Sakowski, who finished third in 2022 and second in 2023. This year he took that final step up on the podium as he smoked on for almost another half hour before his fire went out.

The times might not have been absolute world class, except maybe Sakowski’s, but the message is clear. Poland is a country to depend on. Once again they’ll be sending more than a few serious contenders to the final in Dubrovnik later this month. The bet is at least one of them will be up there fighting for the title of world champion.

Marcin Sakowski 2:51:04
Klaudia Ide 2:25:40
Borys Szkodziak 2:24:20

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