The CSWC India 2026 results confirm Aman Layoria as India’s slow-smoking champion after a penalty-free performance, while Vishrut Rangwala recorded the joint-longest raw time with only the second cigar he had ever smoked.
The Cigar Smoking World Championship returned to New Delhi on 28 June 2026, as India Cigar Club welcomed competitors, partners and guests to Kakapo in Mehrauli for the country’s national final.Using the official Oliva CSWC competition cigar, 24 participants were challenged to combine patience, control and precision while keeping their cigars alight for as long as possible under the championship’s strict international rules.At the end of a closely contested competition, Aman Layoria was crowned CSWC India Champion 2026 with a clean, penalty-free time of 1 hour, 52 minutes and 14 seconds.Layoria’s composure proved decisive. Several leading competitors recorded longer raw stop-times, but penalties reshaped the final standings and allowed Layoria’s disciplined performance to carry him to the national title.
A Remarkable Second Cigar
The most unexpected performance of CSWC India 2026 came from Vishrut Rangwala.Rangwala had smoked only one cigar before entering the championship. Nevertheless, he kept his competition cigar alive for 1 hour, 55 minutes and 20 seconds, recording the joint-longest unadjusted time of the event.A technical issue with his cigar resulted in a 15-minute penalty under the championship rules, reducing his official result to 1 hour, 40 minutes and 20 seconds. Without that penalty, Rangwala’s raw time would have exceeded Layoria’s winning time.It was a striking demonstration that competitive cigar smoking is not necessarily determined by decades of experience. Patience, concentration and an instinctive respect for the cigar can sometimes bring a newcomer remarkably close to the podium’s highest step.Vibhoar Goel also recorded a raw stop-time of 1:55:20 and received an identical 15-minute penalty. The official result sheet placed Rangwala second and Goel third, both with final results of 1:40:20.Narayanan Vaidyanthan finished fourth with an adjusted time of 1:37:50, followed by Manish Ghei in fifth at 1:28:06.[caption id="attachment_5549" align="alignnone" width="587"] Vishrut Rangwala competes at CSWC India 2026. Smoking only the second cigar of his life, Rangwala recorded a raw stop-time of 1:55:20 and finished second after a 15-minute penalty.[/caption]
A Championship for Experienced Smokers—and Complete Newcomers
The diversity of the field was as significant as the competition itself.Alongside established cigar enthusiasts were six participants who had smoked only two or three cigars over the preceding thirty years. Their willingness to compete reflected the broader purpose behind India Cigar Club’s involvement with CSWC: creating an approachable entry point into cigar appreciation while maintaining the discipline, credibility and international standards of the championship.Defending champion Vikramditya Ranwala returned to compete but was unable to retain the title, finishing fourteenth with a time of 56 minutes.For India Cigar Club, the contrast between the defending champion, established competitors and first-time smokers illustrated a community that is becoming both more competitive and more inclusive.
“CSWC India 2026 was a powerful reminder of how quickly and meaningfully the cigar community is growing across India. Through India Cigar Club, we have always wanted to build more than a members’ club—we wanted to create a serious, welcoming and culturally relevant platform for cigar appreciation in India.What made this year especially exciting was the mix of seasoned smokers and complete newcomers. We had six participants who had smoked barely two or three cigars in the last thirty years, yet they came forward, competed and embraced the spirit of the championship. That is exactly the kind of growth we want to see.The support from brands across complementary luxury and lifestyle industries also shows that cigars in India are moving into a broader cultural space—one that includes hospitality, wine, spirits, watches, fashion and refined experiences.Last year’s winner fought hard but was unable to retain his title. Looking ahead, we are excited to see whether Utkarsh, Yash or Vishrut can take pole position next year and break the 2:20:00 barrier. India is only getting started.”Raahuul Kapoor — India Cigar Club
Kakapo Provides the Setting
Venue partner Kakapo Restaurant provided the setting for the championship, transforming its Mehrauli space into an arena of quiet concentration during the competition and animated conversation once the final cigar had gone out.
“Kakapo was delighted to host CSWC India 2026 in partnership with India Cigar Club. For us, hospitality is about creating memorable moments, and this championship brought together a very special community—refined, curious, competitive and full of character.It was wonderful to see our space become the setting for such a distinctive international-format event. The energy in the room, the discipline of the competitors and the camaraderie between guests showed that India is ready for more experiences of this calibre. We are proud to have been the venue partner for a championship that is helping shape the future of cigar culture in the country.”Udit Bagga — Owner, Kakapo Restaurant | Venue Partner
Wine, Spirits, Technology and Lifestyle Meet Cigar Culture
The championship was supported by partners from hospitality, wine, beer, spirits, technology, architecture and luxury media.For India Cigar Club, this cross-industry participation was an indication that cigar appreciation in India is developing beyond the confines of a specialist smoking community. Increasingly, it sits within a wider ecosystem of gastronomy, design, premium beverages, travel and curated experiences.Sula Vineyards continued a relationship with India Cigar Club and CSWC that began in 2022.
“Sula Vineyards was pleased to support CSWC India once again this year. We have been part of India Cigar Club events, and specifically CSWC, since 2022. Wine and cigars both require patience, craftsmanship and an appreciation of nuance, so the partnership felt very natural.Events like this introduce Indian audiences to a more thoughtful, sensory style of luxury—one that is not only about consumption, but also about culture, conversation and community. It was a pleasure to be part of an experience that brought connoisseurs, new enthusiasts and leading lifestyle brands together under one roof.”Sahil Mishra — Sula Vineyards
Technology partner TCL India, represented through Shivalik Distribution Private Limited, also saw a natural connection between the championship and the values of focus and performance.
“TCL India was proud to be associated with CSWC India 2026. The championship reflects many values we believe in—precision, focus, performance and the pursuit of excellence.What stood out was the way India Cigar Club brought together a diverse group of people around a niche but rapidly growing lifestyle culture. It was not simply a competition; it was a beautifully curated experience blending hospitality, luxury, technology, conversation and community. We are excited to see how this platform continues to grow in the years ahead.”Bharat Lal — TCL India
Building an Indian Platform with International Relevance
India Cigar Club was founded in 2012 and has since worked to provide India’s cigar community with greater structure, visibility and access to international cigar culture. Its CSWC partnership has become one of the club’s most prominent annual platforms.The wider involvement of Luxury Ampersand Frolics Group has helped place the championship alongside complementary sectors including fine beverages, hospitality, writing instruments, watches, fashion and experiential luxury.
“CSWC India 2026 represented a new chapter for luxury lifestyle experiences in India. The event brought together cigar enthusiasts, hospitality leaders, premium beverage partners, technology brands and tastemakers in a setting that felt international in standard and distinctly Indian in spirit.Since 2012, India Cigar Club has created a serious, credible and culturally relevant platform for cigar appreciation in India, giving the community structure, visibility and a genuine sense of belonging. Many have drawn inspiration from its success, but what continues to distinguish India Cigar Club is its humility, knowledge, generosity, teamwork and long-term strategic vision.This also reflects the wider work being done by Luxury Ampersand Frolics Group, which has consistently built platforms at the intersection of cigars, hospitality, luxury lifestyle, fine beverages, watches, writing instruments and experiential culture. Their ability to bring together international brands, Indian audiences and refined communities is what makes their approach both distinctive and enduring.Their influence now extends beyond India, with growing relevance across Middle Eastern and Asian markets. We were proud to support an event celebrating patience, refinement, competition and community, and we look forward to seeing India Cigar Club and Luxury Ampersand Frolics Group continue to shape this space with integrity, elegance and purpose.”Norman Astrid — Chairman, Veluenu Private Bank, Liechtenstein
CSWC India 2026 Results: Official Podium
Place
Competitor
Raw time
Penalty
Official result
1
Aman Layoria
1:52:14
0
1:52:14
2
Vishrut Rangwala
1:55:20
15 min
1:40:20
3
Vibhoar
1:55:20
15 min
1:40:20
4
Narayanan Vaidyanthan
1:52:50
15 min
1:37:50
5
Manish Ghei
1:43:06
15 min
1:28:06
Full Official Standings
The full CSWC India 2026 results, including raw times, penalties and official times, are recorded below.
Place
Competitor
Penalty
(min)
Raw time
Official result
1
Aman Layoria
0
1:52:14
1:52:14
2
Vishrut Rangwala
15
1:55:20
1:40:20
3
Vibhoar
15
1:55:20
1:40:20
4
Narayanan Vaidyanthan
15
1:52:50
1:37:50
5
Manish Ghei
15
1:43:06
1:28:06
6
Saurabh Alagh
15
1:38:00
1:23:00
7
Rohit Reddy
15
1:31:00
1:16:00
8
Mohit Rishi
15
1:26:17
1:11:17
9
Yashraj
0
1:07:00
1:07:00
10
Akshay Handa
0
1:06:18
1:06:18
11
Sharad Hari Lal
0
1:06:00
1:06:00
12
Sachin Vaish
0
1:03:00
1:03:00
13
KP Parmar
0
1:01:00
1:01:00
14
Vikramditya Ranwala
0
0:56:00
0:56:00
15
Akshay Kandpal
0
0:48:00
0:48:00
16
Pranav Bajaj
0
0:44:00
0:44:00
17
Utkash Shorewala
15
0:57:00
0:42:00
18
Kavita Gooding
0
0:42:00
0:42:00
19
Pranav Seth
0
0:41:00
0:41:00
20
Sahil Misra
0
0:35:00
0:35:00
21
Vineet Gulani
0
0:30:00
0:30:00
22
Nitin
10
0:40:00
0:30:00
23
Vikash Thapar
5
0:24:00
0:19:00
24
Jason Gooding
0
0:17:00
0:17:00
CSWC India 2026 Was Supported By
Organiser: India Cigar ClubVenue Partner: Kakapo, Mehrauli
Luxury Ampersand Frolics Group
Experiences
Shivalik Distribution Private Limited for TCL India
The Cigar Smoking World Championship returned to New Delhi on 28 June 2026, as India Cigar Club welcomed competitors, partners and guests to Kakapo in Mehrauli for the country’s national final.Using the official Oliva CSWC competition cigar, 24 participants were challenged to combine patience, control and precision while keeping their cigars alight for as long as possible under the championship’s strict international rules.At the end of a closely contested competition, Aman Layoria was crowned CSWC India Champion 2026 with a clean, penalty-free time of 1 hour, 52 minutes and 14 seconds.Layoria’s composure proved decisive. Several leading competitors recorded longer raw stop-times, but penalties reshaped the final standings and allowed Layoria’s disciplined performance to carry him to the national title.
Vishrut Rangwala competes at CSWC India 2026. Smoking only the second cigar of his life, Rangwala recorded a raw stop-time of 1:55:20 and finished second after a 15-minute penalty.[/caption]
