Nigerian chess prodigy and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has made headlines once again—this time by setting a new world record for the longest chess marathon.
Onakoya achieved the feat on Sunday at New York’s iconic Times Square, where he and his playing partner, American chess expert Shawn Martinez, played continuously for an astonishing 64 hours.
The previous record, held by Norwegian players Odin Blikra Vea and Askild Bryn, stood at 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.
Once Onakoya and Martinez crossed the 62-hour mark, they had officially broken the record. However, they continued until reaching their ultimate goal of 70 hours, to amplify their broader mission.
The effort, widely followed online under the hashtag #70HoursofChessWithTunde, was part of a larger campaign to support educational access for underprivileged children.
“Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education,” Onakoya said during the marathon, reinforcing the purpose behind the attempt.
Despite having surpassed the existing record, the new achievement awaits official verification from Guinness World Records (GWR) before it can be formally recognized.
This wasn’t Onakoya’s first brush with record-breaking.
In April 2024, he completed a 60-hour chess marathon that beat a then-standing record of 56 hours set in 2018 by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad. However, that earlier attempt was not certified by GWR.
Onakoya’s latest endeavor has drawn widespread acclaim, not only for its competitive significance but also for its powerful message on using chess as a tool for social change.
