BREAKING: Nigeria’s Onakoya Smashes 58-Hour Chess Marathon Record, Targets 60 Hours

This Saturday, Nigerian chess maestro Tunde Onakoya achieved a new milestone by setting a Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess session.

Onakoya announced his achievement on his official X account, expressing determination not only to maintain but to extend his record to an impressive 60 hours.

“We have done it,” Onakoya posted. “We’re pushing to 60 hours, guys. We’re not stopping yet. Let’s keep going.”

Onakoya’s marathon chess challenge took place in the bustling atmosphere of New York City’s Times Square, where he surpassed the previous record held by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who set a record at 56 hours and 9 minutes back in 2018.

The record-breaking attempt is not just about chess; it’s a focused fundraiser aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for less privileged children across Africa. This noble cause is fueled by Onakoya’s nonprofit organization, Chess in Slums Africa. He believes in demonstrating “the incredible power of love” to make a significant impact on education for African children globally.

To solidify the new record, Onakoya was joined by Shawn Martinez, a US National Master, who is not only a well-known chess figure in New York City but also a formidable opponent. Martinez joined the marathon about 23 hours into the game, contributing to the new world record. Both players now share the title of this new record, which will count their continuous playtime in hours, minutes, and seconds.

The event has garnered extensive support from notable Nigerian figures, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and singers Davido and Adekunle Gold, all cheering for Onakoya to achieve and even surpass his 60-hour goal.