The Bulgarian capital has hosted this event on two previous occasions - in 1999 and 2010 - but the Championships that start tomorrow and run until Sunday (March 10) night will be held for the first time at the Arena Armeec, opened in 2011.

The season's climax appears likely to feature an extension of the spectacular success Schulting has enjoyed this season.

The Dutch star has won four of seven possible World Cup gold medals over 1,000 metres to claim the overall title with ease.

She also came out on top in the 1,500m overall competition after winning in both Calgary and Turin.

The 1,000m seems Schulting's most likely gold medal prospect.

Her main rivals, Sofia Prosvimova of Russia, and Canada's Alyson Charles and Kim Boutin, have won World Cup 1,000m races in Dresden, Salt Lake City and Turin respectively.

But none of those races featured Schulting.

The Dutch racer may be a little more vulnerable in the 1,500m, where South Korea's Kim Ji Yoo, second in the overall World Cup standings, has hit top form recently and her compatriot Choi Min Jeong, the Pyeongchang 2018 gold medallist, will also be a threat.

With regard to the 500m event, by mid-season it seemed certain the World Cup title was destined for Natalia Maliszewska, but the Pole earned the overall crown by only a handful of points following a late charge by Italy's Martina Valcepina, who was remarkably fast in Dresden - then stormed both races on home ice in Turin.

This duo are likely to contest the sprint title in Bulgaria, with Kim Ji Yoo, Lara van Rujven of The Netherlands and Hungary's Petra Jaszapati also challenging.

On the men's side, the 1,500m featured a different winner across the first three meetings, with Japan's Kazuki Yoshinaga, Sjinkie Knegt of The Netherlands and South Korea's Lim Hyo Jun all making their mark.

But then a new name, Kim Gun Woo of South Korea, emerged to take gold in the second of the Almaty 1,500m races, adding wins in Dresden and Turin to take the overall title.

The 20-year-old suddenly seemed unbeatable - but he will not compete in Bulgaria, so the title looks likely to be contested by the three earlier winners, plus others such as Steven Dubois of Canada and Lee June Seo of South Korea.

The destination of the 1,000m overall title also altered course mid-term, largely thanks to an injury to Hungary's Shaoang Liu, who dominated the event until a mishap in Dresden.

In his absence Park Ji Won of South Korea came through to take the overall crown in front of compatriots Hong Kyung Hwan and Hwang Dae Heon.

In the men's 500m, Olympic champion Wu of China won the first three gold medals but then missed the next three events.

Latterly South Korea's Lim Hyo Jun, Canada's Samuel Girard and Hwang impressed, with Lim taking the overall honours.

But Wu is back this weekend - and will be favourite despite his recent absence from the World Cup circuit.

In the relays, Russia will be most pundits' tip to win the women's title - while South Korea might challenge strongly for the men's title due to Hungary missing Liu.