Ice dance couple Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski became world champions for the first time in their career. The two are the only Bulgarian figure skaters holding such title.

Denkova and Staviski received a total score of 199.14 points during the three rounds of the world championship in Calgary, Canada, Focus news agency reported.

Canadian competitors Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon remained second with 198.69 points after the compulsory, original and free programmes. Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto from the US ranked third with 196.74 points.

The Bulgarians received highest marks for their compulsory and original dance. They ranked third in the free programme but the points accumulated in the previous rounds gave Denkova and Staviski the world champions’ title.

Denkova and Staviski remained fifth in the Winter Olympics in Turin. Many Bulgarians thought the judges underestimated the performance of the Bulgarian duo.

In 2004 the Bulgarians became world championship silver medalists. In 2003 they got the bronze medal.

Eurosport commented the persistence of the Bulgarians was finally awarded. Denkova and Staviski have been competing together since 1996 but have never reached such heights, Eurosport reported.