Lincoln Students Excel In Chess

Lincoln Middle School students competing in a regional chess tournament last month scored more combined points than any other school participating in the event, according to Ryan Billingsley, who coached the students along with middle school teachers Becca McAfee and Ivan Huffmaster.

The coaches took 17 middle school students to the fall 2015 NWA Open Chess Tournament at Sonora Middle School in Springdale on Oct. 17.

The students competed against dozens of northwest Arkansas schools.

About 200 students partic- ipated in the competition.

Participating teams included schools from Springdale, Farmington, Bentonville, Prairie Grove, Gravette, Elkins and Pea Ridge.

Lincoln competed in two divisions: second- fourth grade division and fifth-sixth grade division.

In both divisions, Lincoln scored more combined points than any other school.

For the younger division, Lincoln scored 26.5 points with Prairie Grove coming in second with 24.5 points.

In the older division, Lincoln scored 17.5 points. St. Joe was second with 16 points.

Fifth-grader Chilong Vang had an impressive performance scoring five of five points by winning every game and took first place overall in the fifth- and sixthgrade division.

Lincoln Middle School Chess Club is only in its second year, but it has quickly become a very active and popular club, Billingsley said.

More than 40 members meet after school once a week and during lunch once a week.

In May, the coaches will take 12 students to the National Championship in Nashville, Tenn.