Cigar Smoking World Championship

“I wanted to blend and produce a special competition cigar that can be enjoyed by everyone across the world for years to come,” Patel said in a press release.

The competition was founded in 2010 by Marko Bilic, president and founder of Cigar Club Mareva in Split, Croatia. There will be qualifying events in over 30 countries, culminating in the the winners competing at the World Championship in Croatia. Last year’s champion, Oleg Pedan of St. Petersburg, Russia, kept his cigar burning for a total of 3 hours, 26 minutes and 8 seconds.