NSMQ 2026 Shocks: Botwe, PRESEC, Presby SHS Dominate Quarter-Finals!
The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz One-Eighth stage concluded with thrilling outcomes, including Presby SHS, Bompata's upset victory over seeded OLAG. Powerhouses PRESEC-Legon and defending champions Mfantsipim School also secured their quarter-final spots, setting up high-stakes matchups as the race for the national title intensifies.
The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) One-Eighth stage has concluded with a series of dramatic contests, determining the schools that will advance to the coveted quarter-finals. This stage witnessed a significant upset, the continued dominance of powerhouses, and the setting of high-stakes rivalries for the next round.
One of the biggest upsets of the 2026 NSMQ saw Presby SHS, Bompata, successfully eliminate the seeded Our Lady of Grace Senior High School (OLAG) to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. OLAG, notably the only private school to reach the semi-finals in the previous year, entered the contest with the weight of its seeded status. However, Presby SHS, Bompata, displayed remarkable composure in a fiercely contested encounter at the SMS Auditorium. The contest began tightly, with OLAG leading Round One by a single point (17 points to Presby SHS, Bompata's 16, and Kumasi Senior High Technical School's 10). Presby SHS, Bompata, then surged ahead in Round Two, taking the lead with 20 points, while OLAG scored 16 and Kumasi Sec. Tech. reached 13. The Problem of the Day offered minimal separation, with Presby SHS, Bompata, scoring 3 out of 10, and both OLAG and Kumasi Sec. Tech. managing 2. Presby SHS, Bompata, further extended its lead in Round Three (23 points against OLAG’s 18 and Kumasi Sec. Tech.’s 15). Despite a tightening in Round Four, where Presby SHS, Bompata, held 28 points while OLAG and Kumasi Sec. Tech. were tied at 22, Presby SHS, Bompata, maintained its composure in the closing stages. They ultimately finished with 34 points, securing a six-point lead over OLAG (28 points) and Kumasi Sec. Tech. (22 points). This victory means OLAG loses its seeded status, which is now inherited by Presby SHS, Bompata, marking a stunning end to OLAG's campaign and a significant statement for Bompata.
Meanwhile, eight-time champions PRESEC, Legon, survived their initial major test of the 2026 NSMQ, powering past St. Louis SHS and Islamic SHS, Kumasi, to keep their record-extending title hopes alive. The