Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate Tunde Onakoya has made headlines by breaking the record for the longest chess marathon, playing for an impressive 60 hours nonstop in New York City's Times Square. The Guinness World Record organization is yet to confirm Onakoya's attempt, but he is already being hailed as a national hero in Nigeria.
Onakoya, aged 29, aimed to raise $1 million for a charity supporting education for children across Africa. He initially set out to play for 58 hours but surpassed this goal, reaching the 60-hour mark in the early hours of Saturday morning. This feat exceeded the previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds set in 2018 by players from Norway.
Onakoya's charity, Chess in Slums Africa, founded in 2018, aims to educate 1 million children in slum communities across the continent. The chess marathon saw Onakoya facing off against US chess champion Shawn Martinez, with Onakoya emerging victorious in every game.
Supported by Nigerian jollof rice, Afrobeats music, and global messages of encouragement, Onakoya's marathon attracted attention from notable figures like Nigerian musicians Davido and Adekunle Gold. Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu also congratulated Onakoya for his achievement, praising him for showcasing Nigeria's resilience and ingenuity on a global stage.
The event was broadcast in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, with watch parties and digital billboards showcasing the historic match. Onakoya's dedication to using chess as a tool to empower underprivileged children has garnered widespread admiration.
Earlier this year, Onakoya impressed the global chess community with a viral performance at the Digital–Life – Design conference in Berlin. Overcoming visa challenges, he demonstrated his skills by playing and winning simultaneous matches against 10 players, including Bulgarian scientist and politician Solomon Passy.
Onakoya's involvement with The Gift of Chess, an initiative aiming to distribute one million chess sets globally by 2030, further highlights his commitment to promoting the game and its benefits.
