On Saturday, February 14, Valentine’s Day, the 14th Slovak Championship in sabrage – Donovaly Villa Sandi Sek-t 2026 – took place. A total of 25 contestants, both amateurs and professionals, registered for this popular sparkling wine saber-opening competition. Under the supervision of an expert panel composed of sommeliers and food & beverage managers, they competed for the title of “Cutter of the Year 2026.”
The product partner of the competition was ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA a.s., the exclusive importer and distributor of VILLA SANDI, whose bottles of Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG Extra Dry were used for the sabrage. Competition partners AUTOSPORT SZILÁGYI, PARK SNOW DONOVALY, together with the organizers HOTEL GALILEO****, RESIDENCE HOTEL****, ŠPORT HOTEL*** and EnoVia s.r.o., provided valuable prizes for the winners.
Seven contestants entered the women’s category, with Daniela Horvátová taking first place. She delivered a flawless sabrage performance and impressed both the jury and the audience with her charm and presentation. There was strong competition in the male amateur category – after all, which man wouldn’t want to impress his better half or colleagues with a perfect sabrage? However, only 80% of the registered participants managed to succeed. The winner of this category was Marián Briak. Clearly, proper sabrage technique and practical training are essential for successfully completing the semifinal discipline.
The professional category was open to sommeliers, bartenders, baristas, chefs, bakers, and waiters working in HoReCa services across Slovakia and abroad. From the registered semifinalists, the commission selected the three best, who advanced to the final. In the final round, each contestant had to use their own original object for the sabrage, incorporate a creative costume into their performance, and, if needed, additional props.
After their attractive performances, Michal Sekereš defended the title of “Cutter of the Year 2026” for the second time in the competition’s history. He used a fishing reel for his sabrage and, as a fisherman, “caught” his well-deserved victory. Second place went to bartender Štefan Gašparík, who performed sabrage with a modified espresso cup. Juraj Tomko finished in third place, using a Rolex watch for his sabrage. The jury evaluated the originality of the objects used, sabrage technique, presentation and professionalism, the contestants’ ability to describe the product’s characteristics, as well as creativity and originality of the professional performances. The jury’s special prize was awarded to Štefan Serafín for his captivating Valentine’s choreography celebrating love and respect for women, culminating in a sabrage. Sabrage gains added value not only at celebrations and special gastronomic occasions, but also as a distinctive way for a sommelier to express personality before an audience.
Next year, Donovaly will host the jubilee 15th edition of the competition. Several former sabrage champions have already promised to attend and present an exhibition performance with full professionalism. Mark your calendars now – we will be sabering on Saturday, February 27, 2027, in front of Yeti Bar. Let us hope there will be plenty of snow and bubbles, just like in this excellent edition.
Upozornenie / Warning