PRESEC Legon and St. John’s School Surge into NSMQ 2026 Quarter-Finals Amidst Major Upsets for Seeded Schools

The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) one-eighth stage has delivered a mix of dominant performances and shocking upsets at the SMS Auditorium, as traditional powerhouses and underdogs battle for a place in the quarter-finals. Eight-time champions PRESEC, Legon, signaled their intent to secure a record-extending ninth title with a commanding victory over St. Louis SHS and Islamic SHS, Kumasi. Finishing with an impressive 67 points, the Legon-based giants maintained a consistent lead throughout the contest, despite a perfect score from St. Louis in the fourth round. Their victory sets up a highly anticipated quarter-final clash against Mfantsipim School, a matchup that promises to be a highlight of the tournament.

St. John’s School also secured a convincing spot in the next round, finishing with 55 points in a contest against Nandom SHS and Benkum SHS. The Western Region school dominated from the onset, scoring 19 points in the opening round and widening the gap to 52 points by the end of the fourth round. Their rivals, Nandom SHS and Benkum SHS, trailed significantly with 30 and 19 points respectively, failing to keep pace with the clinical performance of the St. John’s contestants. This victory reinforces St. John’s reputation as a formidable contender in this year's national championship.

The tournament has been defined by dramatic upsets, most notably the elimination of seeded schools Our Lady of Grace SHS (OLAG) and Mawuli School. Presby SHS, Bompata, pulled off a stunning victory against OLAG, overcoming an early deficit to win with 34 points against OLAG's 28. This defeat ends OLAG’s run as a seeded school and allows Presby SHS to inherit their coveted status. Similarly, St. Hubert Minor Seminary SHS staged a remarkable comeback to reclaim a lost seed, defeating Mawuli School and Konongo-Odumase SHS. Despite trailing Mawuli after the first round, St. Hubert rallied to finish with 48 points, edging out Mawuli’s 44 points in a tightly contested match.

Produced by Primetime Limited and supported by the Ghana Education Service, the NSMQ continues to be a cornerstone of science and mathematics education in Ghana. The results from these one-eighth stage contests have significantly reshaped the competition's bracket, with several unseeded schools now holding seeded positions for the 2026 quarter-finals and the 2027 edition. As the competition moves into its final stages, the focus remains on whether the established giants can withstand the pressure from rising contenders who have already proven their ability to topple the tournament's elite.