Guinness Records: Nigerian Chess Champ, Tunde Onakoya, Warms Up for 70-Hour Marathon
By Anu Awojobi
Nigerian professional chess player, coach and the Founder, Chess In Slums Africa Tunde Onakoya is set to break the Guinness World Records for the longest chess marathon for the second time.
Onakoya's aim is not just to claim the record title holder but to raise awareness and support for building the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria to give them a sense of belonging.
The chess champ in a post on his micro blogging and social networking site "X" hinted of his plan to play chess non-stop for 70 hours at the Times Square in New York City United States from April 17 to the 20th 2025.
He wrote, “There is a new world record for 61 hours set by two Norwegian players. On the 17th of April we will attempt to break that record and set a new one for 70 hours. My dream is to inspire the world and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.
I won’t be doing it alone. I’ll be playing alongside these kids who have shown all of us that it is possible to do great things from a small place. (They will only join in for a few hours).
The upcoming feat is Tunde Onakoya’s second attempt to break the GWRs Chess Marathon.
Recall in April 2024 he completed a 60-hour chess marathon alongside American chess master Shawn Martinez surpassing the 56-hour record previously set in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.
Onakoya and Martinez record breaking feat was however short-lived as another pair of Norwegian players set a new record of 61 hours 3 minutes and 34 seconds in June 2024; two months after their win.
The chess champ in a post on his micro blogging and social networking site "X" hinted of his plan to play chess non-stop for 70 hours at the Times Square in New York City United States from April 17 to the 20th 2025.
He wrote, “There is a new world record for 61 hours set by two Norwegian players. On the 17th of April we will attempt to break that record and set a new one for 70 hours. My dream is to inspire the world and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.
I won’t be doing it alone. I’ll be playing alongside these kids who have shown all of us that it is possible to do great things from a small place. (They will only join in for a few hours).
The upcoming feat is Tunde Onakoya’s second attempt to break the GWRs Chess Marathon.
Recall in April 2024 he completed a 60-hour chess marathon alongside American chess master Shawn Martinez surpassing the 56-hour record previously set in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.
Onakoya and Martinez record breaking feat was however short-lived as another pair of Norwegian players set a new record of 61 hours 3 minutes and 34 seconds in June 2024; two months after their win.
