Tunde Onakoya breaks world record for longest chess marathon. Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess master and the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, has achieved a Guinness World Record by completing a 58-hour chess marathon, making him the longest individual in a chess marathon.
This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds held by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.
Onakoya, known for his efforts to bring positive change to children living in slums, embarked on his chess marathon on Wednesday, April 17, at the iconic Times Square in New York.
Throughout the marathon, he played over 150 games undefeated, alongside his US partner Shawn Martinez and several other chess players.
The 29-year-old native of Oyo state set out to raise funds totaling $1 million and create awareness for providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children across Africa.
As he pursues his ambitious goal, Tunde Onakoya has managed to garner a total of $92,808 in donations. To extend his tournament and reach his target, he decided to continue playing for an additional 2 hours, bringing the total duration of the marathon to an impressive 60 hours.
Despite facing health challenges, including intense vomiting and stomach pain during the marathon, Tunde’s determination and resilience kept him going.
Supporters and well-wishers from both home and abroad have rallied behind the chess master, eagerly awaiting recognition from the Guinness Book of Records.
Notable Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and musicians Davido and Adekunle Gold, have all expressed their support for Tunde Onakoya in his quest to break the new record.
In a message shared via X app, Tunde expressed his determination to reach the 60-hour mark and emphasized the importance of their collective efforts in supporting the education of African children worldwide. He urged everyone to continue demonstrating the power of love and solidarity in achieving their shared goal.