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

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

NEW YORK (AP) — Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, made history in New York City’s Times Square by playing chess nonstop for 60 hours to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.

The 29-year-old set out to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa through this record-breaking attempt, which began on Wednesday. Surpassing the current record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, Onakoya reached the 60-hour mark at about 12:40 a.m. on Saturday.

Playing against American chess champion Shawn Martinez, Onakoya kept his energy high with the support of onlookers and a blend of African music. Among those cheering him on was Nigerian music star Davido.

The record attempt, in line with Guinness World Record guidelines, required two players to continuously play for the entire duration. Onakoya’s organization, Chess in Slums Africa, aims to support the education of at least 1 million children in slums across the continent.

With only five minutes of break for every hour of gameplay, Onakoya fueled himself with water and jollof rice, a popular West African dish. Despite the physical and mental challenges, he remained determined to make a difference for children in need.

Within the first 20 hours of the attempt, $22,000 was raised, showcasing the overwhelming support from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities, and passersby. Onakoya’s efforts were closely followed in Nigeria, where millions of school-age children are not in school.

Public figures, including Nigeria’s former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, have commended Onakoya for his dedication to improving education access for disadvantaged youth. As the Guinness World Record organization reviews his achievement, Onakoya’s message of hope and possibility resonates with supporters worldwide.