Norwegian Chess Enthusiasts Break GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for Longest Chess Marathon

Norwegian Chess Enthusiasts Break Guinness World Record for Longest Chess Marathon

In a remarkable feat of endurance and mental strength, Askild Bryn and CM Odin Blikra Vea from Norway have shattered the Guinness World Records™ record for the Longest Chess Marathon after a grueling 61-hour blitz marathon. Playing a total of 383 five-minute blitz games, the record was officially confirmed at 10 p.m. local time in Stavanger, Norway.

The new record stands at an impressive 61 hours, three minutes, and 34 seconds, with every move of the match streamed live by Chess.com. Carl Saville, Guinness World Records Official Adjudicator, praised the effort as one of the most well-prepared records he had overseen in his 15-year tenure, declaring the players “officially amazing.”

During the marathon, the players were allowed five-minute breaks per hour, which they could accumulate for up to 30 minutes every six hours. Bryn and Blikra Vea used these breaks for power-naps to sustain their marathon. Despite moments of struggle and hallucinations, the players remained determined to break the record.

Magnus Carlsen, former world champion and a close friend of Bryn and Blikra Vea, congratulated them on their achievement. Carlsen, who visited them throughout the attempt, expressed his pride in their dedication and preparation for the marathon.

The former record for the Longest Chess Marathon was held by Norwegian FM Sjur Ferkingstad and Hallvard Haug Flatebo, lasting 56 hours and 9 minutes. Nigerian chess player Tunde Onakoya surpassed that mark with 60 hours in Times Square, but Guinness World Records has not yet approved that record. Bryn and Blikra Vea aimed to exceed that mark and set a new standard.

In addition to their record-breaking achievement, Bryn and Blikra Vea used the attempt as an opportunity to raise funds for charity, with a total of $6,600 raised for breast cancer research. Despite the physical and mental challenges they faced during the marathon, the players emerged victorious, setting a new standard in the world of chess.