Record Numbers, Lasting Impact: BEST Foundation’s National Tournament Closes Record-Breaking Season in Sofia

The final tournament of the 2024-2025 academic year took place from the 11th to the 13th of April, 2025, in Sofia. It was hosted by the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) as per our new tradition. As it was the last tournament of the academic year, this event featured only students who qualified from previous tournaments - the best of the best! 

This culminating event brought together 340 participants from 37 schools across the country. The evaluation of all these students would not have been possible without the 112 volunteer judges. Furthermore, participation in the debate category hit a record high, the highest number recorded in BEST Foundation’s history - 50 teams took part in insightful debate across the novice and varsity category.

The tournament was opened by a special performance by four participants from our Student Leadership Program, with all of them warmly welcoming and energising the audience.

However, such initiatives would not be possible without the support of our partners. This is precisely why the presence of their representatives at our events is so important, as it allows them to experience not only the spirit of our tournament, and the excitement of the students, but it gives us, the foundation and its community, the opportunity to express our gratitude. That is why we had the pleasure to welcome several distinguished speakers at the opening ceremony: UNWE Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Eric Brassil, Cultural Attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Valya Nadova, Program Officer at the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Angela Rodel, Executive Director of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission, and Viktoria Boyadzhieva, journalist from Nova TV.

The long and emotional weekend was closed by motivational words of the president of the Debate Association Bulgaria, Nikolay Angelov, who is also a World Debate Vice-Champion. 

This event concluded the tournament season of the academic year. However, the last in-person event of the year will be our Student Leader Wrap-Up Seminar, in which we will bid goodbye to our incredible student leaders. The event will be held from the 10th to the 11th of May in Bankya.


Participating Teams/Schools

Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School

Blagoevgrad, FLHS Lyudmil Stoyanov

Burgas, Geo Milev GPAE

Dimitrovgrad, Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLS

Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

Gabrovo, Aprilov National High School

Gotse Delchev, PMG Yane Sandanski

Haskovo, Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS

Kardzhali, Hristo Botev FLS

Kyustendil, Dr. Petar Beron Language School

Lovech, Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS

Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS

Plovdiv, Akademic "Kiril Popov" High School of Mathematics

Pravets, Aleko Konstantinov FLHS

Razgrad, Ekzarh Yosif FLHS

Ruse, Geo Milev ELS

Ruse, Baba Tonka High School of  Mathematics

Shumen, Nanco Popovich High School of Maths and Science

Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS

Shumen, Sava Dobroplodni Secondary School

Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS

Smolyan, Ivan Vazov Language School

Sofia, 119th School

Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

Sofia, 97th School Bratya Miladinovi

Sofia, British School

Sofia, Second English Language School

Sofia, Technological School Electronic Systems (TUES)

Sofia, Zlatarski International School

Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS

Plovdiv, Akademic "Kiril Popov" High School of Mathematics

Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School

Varna, First Language School

Varna, Independents school of Thought

Veliko Tarnovo, American College ARCUS

Vidin, Yordan Radichkov FLS

AWARDS

POETRY INTERPRETATION – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Alisa Peeva - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School 

  • Sophia Anova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School 

  • Svetlozara Georgieva - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School 

  • Ivana Tsvetanova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School 

  • Tsvetelina Tsvetkova - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science H

  • Izabel Nikolova - Silistra Peyo Yavorov

  • Dayana-Mariya Kirilova - Kyustendil, Dr. Petar Beron Language School 

Finalists

  1. Emirkan Mustafa - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  2. Vanina Stanislavova Valentinova - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  3. Aleksa Nikolaeva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  4. Divna Avramova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

  5. Stefan Petrov - Kyustendil, Dr. Petar Beron Language School

  6. Asya Dudinska - Pravets, Aleko Konstantinov FLHS

POETRY INTERPRETATION – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Elena Valeva - Plovdiv, Acad. Kiril Popov High School of Mathematics

  • Radina Lyubenova Staneva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  • Adelina Tsvetkova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and S

  • Katerina Dimitrova - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS

  • Elena Totten - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS

  • Beloslava Rafailova - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS 

Finalists

  1. Maya Bateva - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS 

  2. Nadezhda Kancehva - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

  3. Preslava Rusalieva - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS

  4. Zornitsa Ivanova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov 

  5. Nadezhda Ivanova - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS

  6. Rada Todorova - Shumen, Sava Dobroplodni Secondary School 

PROSE INTERPRETATION – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Lili Ivanova - Sofia, 119th School

  • Dara Tsoncheva - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

  • Maria Kirilova Borisova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

  • Emanuela Emanuilova Milova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School 

  • Eva Valcheva - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS

  • Milen Iliev - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS 

  • Stela Marinova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

Finalists

  1. Karina Andonova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

  2. Emirkan Mustafa - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  3. Victoria Mihneva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov 

  4. Boyana Balevska - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  5. Sophia Anova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School 

  6. Boris Zhekov - Sofia, 119th School

PROSE INTERPRETATION – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Yoanna Netezilova - Sofia, 119th School

  • Kristian Mateev - Sofia, 97th school Bratya Miladinovi 

  • Radina Lyubenova Staneva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  • Zarina Popova - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS

  • Magdalena Ilcheva - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS

  • Tsvetina Tsvetkova - Vidin, Yordan Radichkov FLS 

Finalists

  1. Mertol Mehmed - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS

  2. Denislav Aleksandrov - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS

  3. Kaloyan Georgiev - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

  4. Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  5. Zornitsa Ivanova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

ORIGINAL ORATORY – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Anna Malik - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School

  • Kalin Donev - Varna, First Language School

  • Iva Dimitrova - Varna, First Language School

  • Nikoleta Pavlova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and S

  • Selin Halil - Haskovo, Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS

  • Yana Topcheva - Sofia, Second English Language School

Finalists

  1. Yoana Georgieva Stefanova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

  2. Zara Marinova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and S

  3. Trayan Beshkov - Lovech, Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS

  4. Lyubov Vasileva - Pravets, Aleko Konstantinov FLHS

  5. Tsvetelina Tsvetkova - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science H

  6. Emilia Paparkova - Gotse Delchev, PMG Yane Sandanski

ORIGINAL ORATORY – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Anna-Maria Vladimirova - Sofia, 97th school Bratya Miladinovi

  • Elena Valeva - Plovdiv, Acad. Kiril Popov High School of Mathematics

  • Nikol Mihaylska - Pravets, Aleko Konstantinov FLHS

  • Denislav Gradev - Varna, First Language School

  • Stilyan Tsolov - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS

  • Sandriano-Christofar Radonchik - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov 

Finalists

  1. Magdalena Ilcheva - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS

  2. Dimana Nencheva - Varna, First Language School

  3. Jordan Georgiev - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov 

  4. Martin Ivanov - Gabrovo, Aprilov National High School

  5. Bozhana Liteva - Varna, First Language School

  6. Ivayla Yovcheva - Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus

DUO INTERPRETATION – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Aleksandar Georgiev and Aleksandar Viktor Balabanov - Sofia, Second English Language School

  • Glory Georgieva and Srebrina Stankova - Vidin, Yordan Radichkov FLS

  • Pamela Sivrieva and Jasmina Malinova - Gotse Delchev, PMG Yane Sandanski

  • Neda Mitrova and Maria Krivoshieva - Sofia, Second English Language School

  • Mila Eneva and Kalina Vezarova - Sofia, Second English Language School

  • Karina Andonova and Yoana Georgieva Stefanova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

Finalists

  1. Palmiriya Petrova and Nikol Dimitrova - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS

  2. Maria Nikolova and Stela Marinova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  3. Kristina Konstantinova and Milen Iliev - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS

  4. Dimana Shalamanova and Zhiva Pashova - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS

  5. Alisa Peeva and Maria Kirilova Borisova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School

  6. Yoanna Ivanova and Stefan Simeonov - Vidin, Yordan Radichkov FLS

DUO INTERPRETATION – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Liliya Zhostova and Yoanna Popkocheva - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science H

  • Darina Bosilkova and Melissa Mehmed - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  • Stoil Mirchev and Valeria Masheva - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS

  • Mariya Atanasova and Raya Andreeva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  • Martina Stefanova and Maria Slavcheva - Vidin, Yordan Radichkov FLS

  • Ema Petrova and Ana-Kristina Zdravkova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

Finalists

  1. Kristina Petrova and Ivan Ivanov - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS

  2. Petya Tsvetkova and Sofia Bosilkova - Lovech, Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS

  3. Adriana Zhelezova and Beloslava Petrova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  4. Denislav Aleksandrov and Nadia Mateeva - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS

  5. Georgi Georgiev and Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  6. Anna-Maria Vladimirova and Yoana Chaeva - Sofia, 97th school Bratya Miladinovi

WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Finalists

  1. Melani Genova, Ivan Sirakov, Gabriela Nedyalkova - 119th School of Sofia

  2. Anya Dineva, Nikol Vancheva, Boris Zhekov - 119th School of Sofia

Top Speaker Awards

  1. Konstantin Mitev - Varna, Petar Beron 

  2. Yasen Ivanov - Varna, Petar Beron

  3. Giuliana Savan Goswami - Sofia, British School

WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Finalists

  1. Vladimir Angelov, Ash Georgiev, Svetlozar Georgiev - Team Plovdiv

  2. Ralitsa Dimitrova, Izabela Koleva, Kalina Kardjilova - Varna, First Language School

Top Speakers Award

  1. Ralitsa Dimitrova - Varna, First Language School 

  2. Deyan Grigorov - Sofia, Zlatarski International School

  3. Aleksandar Petrov - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division 

Sofia, Zlatarski International School

Large School Division 

Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

BEST Foundation