Czech Republic eliminated, Bulgaria reaches the men's volleyball world championship final for the first time in 55 years

Aleksandar Nikolov’s remarkable form helped Bulgaria’s men’s volleyball team defeat the Czech Republic 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22), reaching the world championship final for only the second time in their history.

Bulgaria reaches the men’s volleyball world championship final after more than fifty years

From the very beginning, both teams engaged in a closely contested match, continuously exchanging points through quick attacks in the middle and on the wings. The Czech Republic relied on Antonin Klimes’s agility in the middle blocker position, while Jan Galabov and Lukas Vasina alternated shining performances at the outside hitter spot with sharp wing spikes. On Bulgaria’s side, outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov showcased superior class with powerful wing and back-row attacks, helping his team stay close and often take the lead.

However, Bulgaria’s biggest flaw was service errors, which prevented them from holding a long-term advantage. Nevertheless, in crucial moments, Bulgaria managed to overcome this issue, organizing effective attacks to pull ahead by four points. Captain Aleks Grozdanov scored the decisive point to close the first set 25-20 in Bulgaria’s favor, providing an early psychological boost.