NSMQ2019: Defending champions brace for phenomenal Presec, Augusco threat

135 teams journeyed to the University of Ghana with one goal, to be crowned the 26th winners of Primetime’s National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ).

After four weeks, three of them are left; but there is only one trophy; two more schools must kneel for the staircase leading to the title to be completed for the winner to lift the converted new title.

Thursday afternoon, defending champions, St Peter’s SHS, five-time champions, Presec Legon and one-time champion, St Augustine’s College take the stage at the National Theatre in Accra to separate the boys from the men.

The NSMQ finalists

Who will out on top?

Is it the five-time winners who reside opposite the premier university, the University of Ghana?

Presec are five-time winners and are the only school to have won the NSMQ back to back. As they climb the stage today, the boys hope to win a record sixth title.

But can Nii Amu, Selasi and the strategic substitute, Nathaniel deliver number 6? We take a look at how the trio has fared throughout the competition

As Presec made it to the quarterfinal in 2018, they came into the 2019 competition as a seeded school; which means they didn’t have to go through regional qualifiers. In addition, they started their campaign from the second round of contests; otherwise called the one-eighth stage.

Presec faced two underdogs at the 1/8 stage but they almost suffered an upset. The five-time champs were faced with an uphill task after Round One of that contest but as it progressed, they proved themselves as favourites and eventually won the contest with a 16-point gap.

They then faced Pope John SHS and St John’s School at the quarterfinal. The Koforidua top dog failed to give Presec a run for their money and the two ‘John’ schools were easily dumped.

Then, Presec faced what many referred to as the final before the final.

Two-time champions, Opoku Ware School and Adisadel College who were in the fifth consecutive semifinal. The Cape Coast giants had won the previous four and proceeded into the final.

But Presec stopped their streak and also ended Opoku Ware School’s dreams of a third title.

One school standing in the way of Presec’s sixth title dream is St Peter’s SHS whose target is to break the former’s back to back record.

Can the Nkwatia-based school win a fourth title at the expense of Presec and St Augustine’s College?

Their contestants are poised for victory having defeated some big names in the 2019 competition.

Before they booked their slot at the grand finale, St Peter’s broke the hearts of all those rooting for a girls’ school to win the NSMQ for the first time in history.

They eliminated Wesley Girls SHS at the semifinal; Gey Hey was the only girls’ school to make it past the 1/8 stage.

Before then, St Peter’s dumped Kpando SHS and T.I. Amass, Kumasi at the quarterfinal. The defending champions just survived that contest after T.I. Amass matched them toe to toe finishing only five points short of Persco’s tally.

As defending champs, they started their campaign at the 1/8 stage against Apam SHS and Drobo SHS. They were too good to be stopped by the schools and St Peter’s recorded an easy victory.

But even if they survive the threat the five-time champions pose to their back to back dreams, how would they do against the reigning Central Regional champions, St. Augustine’s College?

Augusco had one of the toughest one-eighth draws after coming from the prelims. They faced city rivals, Mfantsipim School and Swedru SHS who eliminated them at the qualifiers in 2018.

But in that clash; Swedru posed no threat at all and the battle between Augusco and Mfantsipim lived up to the billing but Augusco came on top.

They then faced Tamale SHS and Boa Amponsem SHS at the quarterfinal; which also proved tougher than they expected.

Tamale SHS matched them until the last round where St Augustine’s answered the four riddles directed to all schools simultaneously to break the tie.

Then, they faced Keta SHTS and GSTS at the semifinal where they easily shrugged off the two.

After their respective journeys to the final, all the contestants believe they are ready for the final; they don’t have to wait any longer, it is here.

The National Theatre will be filled with students from all the three schools and dignitaries across the country who will grace the grand finale of the NSMQ.

There’s a brand new title and all the contestants want to be the ones lifting it for the first time.

Join us as we bring you live updates of all the thrills before, during and after the grand finale of the NSMQ 2019.

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