NSMQ 2026: Tears of relief as Labone SHS survive Notre Dame Sem. in thriller to secure one-eighth spot

Labone Senior High School (SHS) students burst into tears of relief after narrowly defeating Notre Dame Seminary SHS in the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) Preliminary stage. The intense contest saw the two schools trading leads multiple times until Labone emerged victorious with a final score of 41-39. Labone began strongly in Round One, leading 12-10, but Notre Dame Seminary quickly responded in Round Two to take the lead.

The contest took a decisive turn during the Problem of the Day, where Labone delivered a flawless 10/10 performance, pushing their score to 21 points. Notre Dame Seminary managed to catch up to 23 points, but Labone regained control in Round Four, moving from 21 to 37 points while Notre Dame Seminary fell to 30. Labone secured the win in the final round, finishing with 41 points, just two ahead of Notre Dame Seminary’s 39.

T.I. Amass, Wa, ended the contest with a distant third place, scoring three points. The emotional victory was particularly sweet for Labone after a contest marked by constant shifts in momentum and high-pressure situations. Labone's perfect performance in the Problem of the Day also earned them the Jupay Clean Sheet prize for answering all True or False questions correctly.

Notre Dame Seminary, despite their loss, received the Goil Riddles Bonanza for answering three out of four riddles correctly. Both schools have a rich history in NSMQ, with Notre Dame Seminary having a strong national presence and Labone steadily establishing itself as a consistent competitor. T.I. Amass, Wa, made a historic first appearance at the national championship.

The 2026 NSMQ is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by various organizations, with the broadcast on JoyNews sponsored by VitaMilk and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.