The battle for the last semi-final slot in the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) Greater Accra Regional Championship contest reached its most dramatic peak, as Accra Academy and O’reilly SHS locked horns in an intense contest that ended in a rare and nerve-racking tie-breaker.

Accra Academy, O’reilly SHS, Ghanata SHS, and Accra High School faced off in what was undoubtedly one of the most unpredictable and hard-fought contests of the championship so far. With only one semi-final slot remaining, the stakes could not have been higher.

Round one saw a fairly even performance from all four schools. Accra High School took early advantage of bonus points and led the round with 20 points. O’reilly SHS followed closely with 18 points. Seeded school Accra Academy found themselves in third place with 14 points, while Ghanata SHS struggled, finishing the round with just 8 points.

With the contest still wide open, round two brought more tension. Although Accra Academy and Accra High managed to answer a few questions correctly, all schools made notable errors that cost them valuable points. By the end of the round, Accra Academy had surged to the top with 22 points, Accra High stayed in second with 20, and O’reilly SHS dropped to 16 after point deductions. Ghanata SHS also lost ground, falling to just 4 points.

The true or false round, often a make-or-break stage, lived up to its reputation. Ghanata SHS continued to struggle, while O’reilly SHS mounted a remarkable comeback. By the end of the round, O’reilly had tied with Accra Academy at 32 points, with Accra High just behind at 30. Ghanata, unfortunately, dropped further and ended the round with just 2 points.

Then came the final round, the riddle segment, where speed, wit, and nerves of steel matter most. Accra Academy took the first riddle, igniting wild cheers from their supporters. Ghanata answered the second correctly, showing late form. None of the schools got the third riddle right, and O’reilly SHS grabbed the fourth, bringing the round and regulation time to a close.

With both Accra Academy and O’reilly SHS locked at 35 points, the contest headed into a dramatic tie-breaker to determine who would clinch the final semifinal slot. The auditorium was electric with tension.

In the tie-breaker, both schools fumbled the first question. Accra Academy bounced back and answered the second correctly, pulling ahead. O’reilly missed once again. Accra Academy then sealed their victory by answering the third tie-breaker question correctly, securing the final spot in the semifinals.

It was a contest filled with twists, upsets, and a thrilling finish and in the end, it was Accra Academy that emerged victorious. They now join Presbyterian Boys' SHS, St Thomas Aquinas SHS, Chemu SHTS, and Achimota School in what promises to be a fiercely competitive semi-final stage.