- Tunde Onakoya, a chess champion, goals to interrupt the worldwide report for the longest chess marathon in New York Metropolis’s Instances Sq..
- Onakoya, 29, hopes to boost $1 million for youngsters’s schooling throughout Africa through the marathon.
- The present report stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds, achieved by Norwegian gamers in 2018.
In an endeavor to set a new global benchmark for the longest chess marathon, Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess champion and advocate for youth education, is striving to play chess continuously for 58 hours in New York City’s bustling Times Square.
Aged 29, Onakoya’s mission extends beyond breaking records; he aims to raise $1 million to support children’s education initiatives across Africa. Following Guinness World Record guidelines, Onakoya is joined by Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, forming a duo committed to uninterrupted play throughout the entirety of the challenge.
As of 10:00 a.m. GMT on Friday, Onakoya has already logged an impressive 42 hours of gameplay. Both online and at the event venue, support continues to pour in, with a vibrant atmosphere fueled by African music, captivating spectators and backers with cheers and applause.
The current record for the longest chess marathon stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, set in 2018 by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, both hailing from Norway.
Tunde Onakoya, a prominent chess champion and advocate for youth education, engaged in a chess match in New York City’s iconic Times Square on April 18, 2024. His goal? To attempt a nonstop chess marathon lasting 58 hours, aiming to break the international record.
“This endeavor is dedicated to the aspirations of millions of children across Africa who lack access to education,” stated Onakoya, who established Chess in Slums Africa in 2018. The organization aims to support the education of at least one million children living in slums throughout the continent.
“My energy is still at full throttle because my community is here, providing me with music and support,” Onakoya remarked Thursday evening, having surpassed the 24-hour mark of continuous play.
Throughout the marathon, Onakoya sustains himself with frequent sips of water and servings of jollof rice, a renowned dish from West Africa.
With only five minutes of break time allocated for every hour of gameplay, Onakoya and his opponent have brief respites, often utilized to engage with supporters from Nigeria and New York City who cheer them on. On occasion, Onakoya joins in their celebratory dances.
Within the first 20 hours of the challenge, a total of $22,000 was raised, according to Taiwo Adeyemi, Onakoya’s manager. “The outpouring of support has been tremendous, coming from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities, and countless passersby,” Adeyemi remarked.
Back in Nigeria, Onakoya’s attempt garners significant attention, particularly as he frequently organizes chess competitions for underprivileged youth, aiming to advance his cause. In Nigeria, where over 10 million children are out of school, his efforts are especially poignant.
Numerous public figures, including celebrities and government officials such as Nigeria’s former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, have publicly endorsed Onakoya’s endeavor. Osinbajo wrote to Onakoya on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “Remember your own powerful words: ‘It’s possible to do great things from a small place.'”
As the clock ticks closer to midnight on Friday, potentially marking the culmination of a 58-hour feat, the Guinness World Record organization has yet to comment publicly on Onakoya’s attempt. Confirmation of any new record by the organization typically takes several weeks.
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