The Nigerian chess champion broke the record for the longest chess marathon by playing chess continuously for 58 hours.
Tunde Onakoya, 29, hopes to raise $1 million for the education of African children through a world record attempt in New York’s Times Square.
He ran 58 hours in the early hours of Saturday morning, breaking the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds set by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad from Norway in 2018.
He played against U.S. chess champion Shawn Martinez, complying with Guinness World Records guidelines, which states that any attempt to break the record must be played continuously by two players throughout the entire match.
Guinness World Records has not commented publicly on Onacoa’s attempt. The organization sometimes takes weeks to confirm any new records.
Onakoa, who founded the chess organization in an African slum in 2018, said the record attempt was “a dream for the millions of children in Africa who have no access to education.” His organization hopes to support the education of at least 1 million slum children on the continent.
“My energy is 100 percent right now because my guys are here supporting me with music,” Onakoa said Thursday night after the players passed the 24-hour mark.
Onakoya manager Taiwo Adeyemi said a total of $22,000 was raised in the first 20 hours of the attempt.
“The overwhelming support came from Nigerians in the United States, global leaders, celebrities and hundreds of passers-by,” he said.
Onakoa’s attempts are closely watched in Nigeria, where he regularly organizes chess tournaments for young people living on the streets to further his cause. More than 10 million children are out of school in this West African country – one of the highest rates in the world.
Those who have publicly supported him include Nigeria’s former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote to Onakoa on X: “Remember your own powerful words: ‘It is possible to do big things from small places’ of.
Onakoa and his opponent were given a five-minute break for every hour of play.
Onakoa used the break to catch up with Nigerians and New Yorkers cheering him on, and the mix of African music delighted onlookers and supporters, who sometimes even joined in to dance.
Onakoya’s menu features plenty of water and jollof rice, one of West Africa’s most famous dishes.
