Nigerian Chess Champion Tunde Onakoya Breaks Guinness World Record with 60-Hour Chess Marathon in Times Square

Nigerian Chess Champion Tunde Onakoya Breaks Guinness World Record with 60-Hour Marathon in Times Square

Tunde Onakoya, a 29-year-old Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, made history in New York City’s Times Square by playing chess nonstop for 60 hours straight. His goal? To break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon and raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa.

Onakoya’s record attempt began on April 17 and he surpassed the previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, set in 2018. Playing against American chess champion Shawn Martinez, Onakoya kept the game going with only five minutes of break for every hour played.

Support for Onakoya poured in both online and at the scene, with Nigerian music star Davido among the dozens cheering him on. The energy was high, with African music keeping spirits up as Onakoya pushed through the grueling challenge.

The record attempt is not just about breaking records for Onakoya, but about supporting the education of millions of children in Africa. His organization, Chess in Slums Africa, aims to provide educational opportunities for at least 1 million children living in slums across the continent.

With $22,000 raised within the first 20 hours of the attempt, Onakoya’s manager Taiwo Adeyemi expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities, and passersby.

As Onakoya’s story captivates audiences around the world, his message of hope and possibility resonates with those who believe in the power of education to change lives. Published on April 20, 2024, at 05:33 pm IST, this news of triumph and determination serves as a reminder that greatness can come from even the smallest of places.