What we collect
Account details (full name, email, optional public display name, optional mobile number for prize notifications), age confirmation (21+), age group band (for research — not a full birth date), home city / state / ZIP (where you live, separate from the smoke shop you represent), store/squad assignment, matchup predictions, preference votes, and cigar evaluation responses (Ashology 100-point ratings and market answers). We do not require a street mailing address at signup. Technical logs may include IP address and device fingerprints used to protect tournament integrity.
How we use it
Information is used to run the tournament, award palate-test and prediction points, determine which cigar advances, calculate shop standings and evaluation totals, prevent duplicate or fraudulent entries, notify eligible winners about prizes, and produce aggregated consumer research. Age group and home location are used to compare cigar preferences by age band and geographic area in aggregate reports. Evaluation data may be shared between CigarBracket and Ashologist solely for those purposes.
What stays private
Real names, email addresses, mobile numbers, age groups, and home locations are private and accessible only to authorized tournament administrators. They are not published on public leaderboards or store pages. Aggregated research may summarize counts or preferences by age band or geography without identifying individual participants.
Contact and marketing
We may contact you about your account, matchup deadlines, tournament results, and prize claims. Providing a mobile number for prize notifications does not enroll you in marketing texts. Marketing communications are optional and separate. Declining marketing or public-name display does not reduce points, voting rights, evaluation counts, shop scoring contributions, or drawing eligibility under the applicable rules.
Public displays
Only an optional display name appears on public leaderboards, and only when you opt in. Your real name is never used as a public label. Scores and shop totals may still count toward competition records without publishing your name.
See also the Official Rules. Contact the tournament administrator through the site for privacy questions.