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
Emirkan Mustafa - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Vanina Stanislavova Valentinova - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Aleksa Nikolaeva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Divna Avramova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS
Stefan Petrov - Kyustendil, Dr. Petar Beron Language School
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
Maya Bateva - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS
Nadezhda Kancehva - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School
Preslava Rusalieva - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS
Zornitsa Ivanova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Nadezhda Ivanova - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS
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
Karina Andonova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School
Emirkan Mustafa - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Victoria Mihneva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Boyana Balevska - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Sophia Anova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School
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
Mertol Mehmed - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Denislav Aleksandrov - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS
Kaloyan Georgiev - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School
Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
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
Yoana Georgieva Stefanova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School
Zara Marinova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and S
Trayan Beshkov - Lovech, Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS
Lyubov Vasileva - Pravets, Aleko Konstantinov FLHS
Tsvetelina Tsvetkova - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science H
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
Magdalena Ilcheva - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS
Dimana Nencheva - Varna, First Language School
Jordan Georgiev - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Martin Ivanov - Gabrovo, Aprilov National High School
Bozhana Liteva - Varna, First Language School
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
Palmiriya Petrova and Nikol Dimitrova - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS
Maria Nikolova and Stela Marinova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Kristina Konstantinova and Milen Iliev - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS
Dimana Shalamanova and Zhiva Pashova - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS
Alisa Peeva and Maria Kirilova Borisova - Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School
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
Kristina Petrova and Ivan Ivanov - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS
Petya Tsvetkova and Sofia Bosilkova - Lovech, Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS
Adriana Zhelezova and Beloslava Petrova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Denislav Aleksandrov and Nadia Mateeva - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS
Georgi Georgiev and Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Anna-Maria Vladimirova and Yoana Chaeva - Sofia, 97th school Bratya Miladinovi
WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)
Finalists
Melani Genova, Ivan Sirakov, Gabriela Nedyalkova - 119th School of Sofia
Anya Dineva, Nikol Vancheva, Boris Zhekov - 119th School of Sofia
Top Speaker Awards
Konstantin Mitev - Varna, Petar Beron
Yasen Ivanov - Varna, Petar Beron
Giuliana Savan Goswami - Sofia, British School
WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)
Finalists
Vladimir Angelov, Ash Georgiev, Svetlozar Georgiev - Team Plovdiv
Ralitsa Dimitrova, Izabela Koleva, Kalina Kardjilova - Varna, First Language School
Top Speakers Award
Ralitsa Dimitrova - Varna, First Language School
Deyan Grigorov - Sofia, Zlatarski International School
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