(D)CAs Francesca Reynolds (l.), Luka Petrović (2. l.), and Miloš Marjanović (r.) with tournament winner and best speaker Rok Hafner – © Ivan Đukez

The final of the Zagreb Open 2020 was won by Ljubljana’s Rok Hafner and Filip Korošec as Closing Opposition on the motion “This House prefers a 2nd term of Donald Trump presidency over a Bernie Sanders presidency”. Under the name Bećki konjušari Đ, they defeated the Opening Government Österreichische Laibach (Jerneja Logaj, Matija Pušnik; Ljubljana), Opening Opposition Children of Prinkip (Marina Kojic, Orhan Maglajilic; Vienna) and Closing Government Berlin 36 (Christof Kebschull, Elena Müller; Berlin). The debate was judged by a panel of Nick Zervoudis (chair), Francesca Reynolds, Katharina Margareta Jansen, Marta Vasić and Nicole O’Sullivan.

Best speaker of the tournament was Rok Hafner with an average of 81.60 speaker points.

DCA Luka Petrović (l.) and tournament winner Filip Korošec – © Ivan Đukez

Team Break:
1. Bećki konjušari Đ (Rok Hafner, Filip Korošec) – 13 pts | 810 spks
2. Dinamo Soplica (Tin Puljic, Klaudia Maciejewska) – 12 pts | 794 spks
3. Coco’s dress (Sonja Mitikj, Gjorgi Dimeski) – 11 pts | 783 spks
4. Berlin 36 (Christof Kebschull, Elena Müller) – 11 pts | 783 spks
5. Oh, cock (Zvonimir Kuzmanić, Veronica Minesso)  – 11 pts | 766 spks
6. Children of Prinkip (Marina Kojic, Orhan Maglajilic) – 11 pts | 764 spks
7. Österreichische Laibach (Jerneja Logaj, Matija Pušnik) – 10 pts | 791 spks
8. Gov will tear us apart (Filip Branović, Mihajlo Pavlović) – 10 pts | 781 spks

Adjudication Break:
As judges broke Brian Wong, Emily Frizell, Francesca Reynolds, Ilija Ivanisevic, Katharina Margareta Jansen, Louis Honee, Luka Petrovic, Marta Vasić, Miloš Marjanović, Miri Muntean, Nick Zervoudis, Nicole O’Sullivan, Przemek Stolarski, Teodora Rešetar and Vilim Ilić.

The tournament featured five rounds, semifinals and a final with 48 participating teams. It was convened by the Zagreb Student Debate Forum. The CA team consisted of Brian Wong, Miloš Marjanović, Francesca Reynolds and Luka Petrović as Deputy Chief Adjudicator.

The Motions:

R1: Infoslide: ‘Statistical risk assessment’ uses computer algorithms that process past incarceration data to estimate someone’s likeliness to reoffend based on their easily accessible characteristics (e.g.: past incarceration, income, race, religion, age)

This House would prohibit the use of statistical risk assessments when criminal courts are making sentencing decisions.

R2: Infoslide: An antihero is a protagonist in a story who lacks conventional heroic qualities and attributes such as idealism, courage and morality. Although antiheroes may sometimes perform actions that are morally correct, it is not always for the right reasons, often acting primarily out of self-interest or in ways that defy conventional ethical codes. e.g. Harley Quinn, Cat Woman, Deadpool.

This House prefers the antihero as the dominant female archetype in literature and movies.

R3: Infoslide: The company Bridgewater operates on the practice of Radical Transparency. This means that internally every conversation, meeting and report is recorded and available to all employees upon their request. Additionally employees are required to rank each interaction and collaboration with one another, effectively leaving the review of each other. 

This House believes that companies should adopt the practice of Radical Transparency.

R4: Infoslide: Two schools under one roof is a term for schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina based on the ethnic segregation of children. Children from different ethnic groups, attend classes in the same building, but physically separated from each other and taught separate curricula.

This House would immediately abolish Two Schools under One Roof.

R5: Infoslide: Payday loans are short-term unsecured loans given to borrowers in immediate need of cash. The interest rates on these loans can reach several hundred percent per year.

This House would ban payday loans.

SF: This House prefers a world where people do not enter romantic relationships before they turn 18.

F: This House prefers a 2nd term of Donald Trump presidency over a Bernie Sanders presidency.

jm.