BEST National Tournament at Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech – December 13-14, 2014

The BEST Foundation, formerly “Bulgarian Forensics League” (BFL), held its first national English speech and debate tournament of the academic year on December 13-14, 2014 at Ezikova Gimnazia “Ekzarh Yosif I” in Lovech.

With a final count of 268 students, as well as over 60 judges, chaperones, and coaches from 27 high schools across Bulgaria, this tournament was the largest and most successful tournament in BEST’s history! The following schools participated in the tournament. Schools who participated for the first time are marked in bold:

  • Aleko Konstantinov FLHS (Pravets)

  • Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS (Blagoevgrad)

  • American College of Sofia (Sofia)

  • Aprilov National (Gabrovo)

  • Atanas Burov High School of Business Management (Silistra)

  • Baba Tonka Maths HS (Ruse)

  • Bertolt Brecht FLHS (Pazardzhik)

  • Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS (Dimitrovgrad)

  • Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS (Lovech)

  • Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS (Razgrad)

  • Geo Milev ELS (Ruse)

  • Geo Milev ELS (Dobrich)

  • Hristo Botev FLHS (Kardzhali)

  • Ivan Vasov FLHS (Smolyan)

  • Yoan Ekzarh FLHS (Vratsa)

  • Leonardo da Vinci Private Language School (Dobrich)

  • Nancho Popovich Maths and Science HS (Shumen)

  • Nikola Vapzarov FLHS (Shumen)

  • Peter Bogdan FLHS (Montana)

  • Petko Slaveikov FLHS (Tryavna)

  • Peyo Yavorov FLHS (Silistra)

  • Romain Rolland FLHS (Stara Zagora)

  • Second English Language School (Sofia)

  • Secondary School “Cyril and Methodius” (Ruse)

  • Simeon Radev FLHS (Pernik)

  • Tsar Simeon Veliki HH (Vidin)

  • Yordan Radichkov FLHS (Vidin)

Order of Awards:

  • Novice and Varsity Poetry

  • Novice and Varsity Prose

  • Varsity Duo Interpretation

  • Novice and Varsity Original Oratory

  • Novice and Varsity World Schools Debate

  • Individual Debate Awards

  • Overall School Awards

AWARDS

NOVICE POETRY

Finalists (Top 6)

  • 6th place: Ninna Vladova (Ванина Владова) – Yordan Radichkov, VIDIN

  • 5th place: Yordanka Kostova (Йорданка Костова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 4th place: Alexandra Dimcheva (Александра Димчева) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 3rd place: Neli Velichkova (Нели Величкова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 2nd place: Mihaela Kafedzhiyska (Михаела Кафеджийска) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 1st place: Dani Basina (Дани Басина) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

VARSITY POETRY

Semifinalists (Top 12)

  • Lyubima Slivkova (Любима Сливкова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • Dimona Nikolova (Димона Николова) – Baba Tonka, RUSE

  • Rebeka Ilieva (Ребека Илиева) – Petko Slaveikov, TRYAVNA

  • Kristiana Peneva (Кристияна Пенева) – Petko Slaveikov, TRYAVNA

  • Konstantin Milev (Константин Милев) – Leonardo da Vinci, DOBRICH

  • Asya Velichkova (Ася Величкова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

Finalists (Top 6)

  • 6th place: Nadezhda Ivanova (Надежда Иванова) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • 5th place: Ralitsa Georgieva (Ралица Георгиева) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 4th place: Alexander Venchev (Александър Венчев) – Bertolt Brecht, PAZARDZHIK

  • 3rd place: Preslav Vuchev (Преслав Вучев)  – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • 2nd place: Albina Tomova (Албина Томова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 1st place: Tsvetelina Petrunova (Цветелина Петрунова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

NOVICE PROSE

Semifinalists (Top 12)

  • Alexander Maslarsky (Александър Масларски) – Second English Language School, SOFIA

  • Kiril Ivanov (Кирил Иванов) – Yordan Radichkov, VIDIN

  • Magdalena Tancheva (Мaгдaленa Тaнчевa) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • Magdalena Petkova (Магдалена Петкова) – Aprilov National, GABROVO

  • Stoyana Tomova (Стояна Томова) – Geo Milev, DOBRICH

  • Radina Terziyska (Радина Терзийска) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

Finalists (Top 6)

  • 6th place: Velina Dimitrova (Велина Димитрова) – Aprilov National, GABROVO

  • 5th place: Alliya Molova (Алия Молова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 4th place: Gabriela Gencheva (Габриела Генчева) – Aprilov National, GABROVO

  • 3rd place: Ana-Maria Markovska (Ана-Мария Марковска) – American College of Sofia

  • 2nd place: Mihaela Kafedzhiyska (Михаела Кафеджийска) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 1st place: Denislav Blagoev (Денислав Благоев) – Yordan Radichkov, VIDIN

VARSITY PROSE

Semifinalists (Top 12)

  • Yana Yordanova  (Яна Йорданова) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • Iva Popova (Ива Иванова Попова) – Second English Language School, SOFIA

  • Teodora Draganova (Теодора Драганова) – Atanas Burov, SILISTRA

  • Monika Kovacheva (Моника Ковачева) – American College of Sofia

  • Victoria Vasileva (Виктория Василева) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • Alexandrina Gesheva (Александрина Гешева) – Yordan Radichkov, VIDIN

  • Verona Petkova (Верона Петкова) – Simeon Radev, PERNIK

  • Vasil Ilchevski (Васил Илчевски) – Ivan Vasov, SMOLYAN

Finalists (Top 6)

  • 6th place: Denitsa Petrova (Деница петрова)  – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • 5th place: Joan Popov (Йоан Попов) – Aprilov National, GABROVO

  • 4th place: Pavlen Avramov  (Павлен Аврамов)  – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • 3rd place: Eva Spasova (Ева Спасова) – Simeon Radev, PERNIK

  • 2nd place: Preslav Vuchev (Преслав Вучев)  – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • 1st place: Kosara Tsoneva (Косара Цонева) – American College of Sofia

DUO INTERPRETATION (combined Novice and Varsity)

Quarterfinalists (Top 18)

  • Eva Spasova and Maria Asenova (Ева Спасова, Мария Асенова) – Simeon Radev, PERNIK

  • Kiril Genov and Anton Petrov (Кирил Генов, Антон Петров) – Second English Language School, SOFIA

  • Yoana Tsvetanova and Yoan Radev (Йоана Цветанова, Йоан Радев) – Tsar Simeon Veliki, VIDIN

  • Rebeka Ilieva and Miliana Maleva (Ребека Илиева, Миляна Малева) – Petko Slaveikov, TRYAVNA

  • Alexandra Circova and Beatrice Tomova (Александра Циркова, Беатриче Томова) – Second English Language School, SOFIA

  • Alliya Molova and Mihaela Kafedzhiyska (Алия Молова, Михаела Кафеджийска) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

Semifinalists (Top 12)

  • Konstantina Genova and Katerina Stoyanova (Константина Генова, Катерина Стоянова) – Bertolt Brecht, PAZARDZHIK

  • Natali Todorova Ilieva and Yana Yordanova (Натали Илиева, Яна Йорданова) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • Alexandra Petrova and Nia Ivanova (Александра Петрова, Ниа Иванова)  – Second English Language School, SOFIA

  • Iva Krumova and Kiril Marinov (Ива Крумова, Кирил Маринов) – Second English Language School, SOFIA

  • Veronika Glojeva and Fanni Gkagkoulias (Вероника Гложева, Фанни Гкагкоулиас) – Second English Language School, SOFIA

  • Iva Georgieva and Eduard Milchev (Ива Георгиева, Едуард Милчев) – Tsar Simeon Veliki, VIDIN

Finalists (Top 6)

  • 6th place: Alexandrina Mitkova and Denitsa Petrova (Александрина Миткова, Деница Петрова) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • 5th place: Ralitsa Zapryanova and Silvia Georgieva (Ралица Запрянова, Силвия Георгиева)  – Romain Rolland, STARA ZAGORA

  • 4th place: Viktoriya Borisova and Magdalena Tancheva (Мaгдaленa Тaнчевa, Виктория Борисова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 3rd place: Preslava Kostova and Preslav Vuchev (Преслава Костова, Преслав Вучев)  – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • 2nd place: Yoan Dimov and Martin Tsvetanov (Йоан Димов, Мартин Цветанов) – Romain Rolland, STARA ZAGORA

  • 1st place: Kamelia Gazdova and Maya Todorova (Камелия Газдова, Мая Тодорова) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

NOVICE ORIGINAL ORATORY

Semifinalists (Top 12)

  • Ivanela Sirakova (Иванела Сиракова) – Bertolt Brecht, PAZARDZHIK

  • Niya Neykova (Ния Нейкова) – Dr. Ivan Bogorov, DIMITROVGRAD

  • Eleonora Lyaskovska (Елеонора Лясковска) – Baba Tonka, RUSE

  • Nilay Gunay (Ниляй Мехмед) – Nikola Vapzarov, SHUMEN

  • Peter Stoykov (Петър стоиков) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • Annie Georgieva (Ани Георгиева) – Nikola Vapzarov, SHUMEN

  • Magdalena Dimitrova (Магдалена Димитрова) – Aprilov National, GABROVO

  • Mira Radoslavova (Мира Радославова) – Nancho Popovich, SHUMEN

Finalists (Top 6)

  • 6th place: Yordan Georgiev (Йордан Георгиев) – American College of Sofia

  • 5th place: Boryana Bogdanova (Боряна Богданова) – Tsar Simeon Veliki, VIDIN

  • 4th place: Sofia Naydenova (София Найденова) – Peter Bogdan, MONTANA

  • 3rd place: Velina Pencheva (Велина Пенчева) – Baba Tonka, RUSE

  • 2nd place: Ioana Valova (Йоана Вълова) – American College of Sofia

  • 1st place: Lidia Kechidzhieva (Лидия Кечиеджиева) – Second English Language School, SOFIA

VARSITY ORIGINAL ORATORY

Quarterfinalists (Top 18)

  • Viktor Stoilov (Виктор Стоилов) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • Iveta Toteva (Ивета Тотева) – Romain Rolland, STARA ZAGORA

  • Anastasia Peicheva (Анастасия Пейчева) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • Sevastian Petkov (Севастиан Стоянов) – Nikola Vapzarov, SHUMEN

  • Luboslav Angelov (Любослав Ангелов) – Nikola Vapzarov, SHUMEN

  • Ioanna Ivanova (Йоана Иванова) – Bertolt Brecht, PAZARDZHIK

  • Katerina Doncheva (Катерина Дончева) – Aleko Konstantinov, PRAVETS

  • Lyubima Slivkova (Любима Сливкова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

Semifinalists (Top 12)

  • Desislava Rafailova (Десислава Рафаилова) – Romain Rolland, STARA ZAGORA

  • Violeta Dimitrova (Виолета Димитрова) – Romain Rolland, STARA ZAGORA

  • Yoan Dimov (Йоан Димов) – Romain Rolland, STARA ZAGORA

  • Todor Stanev (Тодор Станев) – Hristo Botev, KARDZHALI

  • Yoana Tsvetanova (Йоана Цветанова) – Tsar Simeon Veliki, VIDIN

  • Ralitsa Belcheva (Ралица Белчева) – Nikola Vapzarov, SHUMEN

Finalists (Top 6)

  • 6th place: Georgi Yanev (Георги Янев) – Bertolt Brecht, PAZARDZHIK

  • 5th place: Myuzhgyan Shaban (Мюжгян Шабан) – Atanas Burov, SILISTRA

  • 4th place: Dilyana Nenova (Диляна Ненова) Ekzarh Yosif I, RAZGRAD

  • 3rd place: Albina Tomova (Албина Томова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 2nd place: Stanimir Stoilov (Станимир Стоилов) – Bertolt Brecht, PAZARDZHIK

  • 1st place: Plamena Gospodinova (Пламена Господинова) – Atanas Burov, SILISTRA

NOVICE WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE

Quarterfinalists (Top 8)

  • Mirela Dancheva, Nilay Gunay, and Annie Georgieva (Мирела Данчева, Ниляй Мехмед, Ани Георгиева) – Nikola Vapzarov, SHUMEN

  • Eleonora Lyaskovska, Velina Pencheva, and Lora Petkova (Елеонора Лясковска, Велина Пенчева, Лора Петкова) – Baba Tonka, RUSE

  • Katerina Aleksandrov, Mirela Minkova, and Mirela Georgieva (Катерина Aлександров, Мирела Минкова, Мирела Георгиева) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

  • Stеnislav Yoitsov, Svilen Toshev, and Miroslav Vurbanov (Стенислав Йоитсов, Свилен Евгениев Тошев, Мирослав Илиев Вурбанов) – Geo Milev, RUSE

Semifinalists (Top 4)

  • Ioana Valova, Yordan Georgiev, and Ivailo Nakov (Йоана Вълова, Йордан Георгиев, Ивайло Наков) – American College of Sofia

  • Ana-Maria Markovska, Nikola Dumanov, and Hale-Seda Radoykova (Ана-Мария Марковска, Никола Думанов, Седа Радойкова)  – American College of Sofia

 

Finalists (Top 2)

  • 2nd: Iva Komisiyska, Ivelina Kiprina, and Keti Karamanova (Ива Комсийска, Ивелина Киприна, Кети Караманова) – Bertolt Brecht, PAZARDZHIK

  • 1st: Ralica Veleva, Simona Koleva, and Edward Enchev (Палица Велева, Симона Колева, Едуард Енчев) – Ekzarh Yosif I, LOVECH

VARSITY WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE

Quarterfinalists (Top 8)

  • Yoana Manoilova, Milka Stoycheva, and Elena Tryanova (Йоана Маноилова, Милка Стойчева, Елена Трянова)  – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • Viktor Stoilov, Nansi Dasheva, and Karolina Kostadinova (Виктор Стоилов, Нанси Дашева, Каролина Костадинова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • Kaloyan Kamenov, Ivanka Angelova, and Ana-Maria Grigorova (Калоян Каменов, Иванка Ангелова, Ана-Мария Григорова)  – Peter Bogdan, MONTANA

  • Nicole Levakova, Teodora Stoyanova, and Evgenia Voutcheva (Никол Левакова, Теодора Стоянова, Евгения Вучева) – American College of Sofia

Semifinalists (Top 4)

  • Stiliyan Gadzhev, Velizar Kirilov, and Kristian Tsonevski (Стилиян Руменов Гаджев, Велизар Кирилов, Кристиан Цоневски) – Geo Milev, RUSE

  • Georgi Georgiev, Stefani Chobanova, and Rosana Petkova (Георги Георгиев, Стефани Чобанова, Росана Петкова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

Finalists (Top 2)

  • 2nd place: Stoyan Trenchev, Iva Saramova, and Mihail Georgiev (Стоян Тренчев, Ива Саръмова, Михаил Георгиев) – American College of Sofia

  • 1st place: Kosara Tsoneva, Teodora Tyankova, Rada Popova (Косара Цонева, Теодора Тянкова, Рада Попова) – American College of Sofia

INDIVIDUAL DEBATE AWARDS

Debate Sportsmanship Award:

  • Stoyana Tomova, Devor Gatev, and Nikola Kartelov (Стояна Томова, Девор Гатев, Никола Картелов) – Geo Milev, DOBRICH

Top Speakers, Novice Debate

  • 2nd place: Mirela Dancheva (Мирела Данчева) – Nikola Vapzarov, SHUMEN

  • 1st place: Velina Pencheva (Велина Пенчева) – Baba Tonka, RUSE

Top Speakers, Varsity Debate

  • 2nd place: Milka Stoycheva (Милка Стойчева) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

  • 1st place: Yoana Manoilova (Йоана Маноилова) – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov, BLAGOEVGRAD

OVERALL SCHOOL AWARDS

Small Division (Based on total points for all participating schools with 1-6 entries)

  • Runners-Up: Ezikova Gimnazia “Ekzarh Yosif I,” RAZGRAD

  • Champions: Secondary School of Business Management “Atanas Burov,” SILISTRA

Middle Division (Based on total points for all participating schools with 7-15 entries)

  • Runners-Up: Ezikova Gimnazia “Bertolt Brecht,” PAZARDZHIK

  • Champions: American College of Sofia, SOFIA

Large Division (Based on total points for all participating schools with 16+ entries)

  • Runners-Up: Ezikova Gimnazia “Ekzarh Yosif I,” LOVECH

  • Champions: Ezikova Gimnazia “Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov,” BLAGOEVGRAD

BEST Foundation