Chess champion Tunde Onakoya is attempting to break the global record for the longest chess marathon in New York City’s Times Square. The current record stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, achieved by Norwegian players in 2018. By playing nonstop for 58 hours, Onakoya hopes to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa. He is playing against American chess champion Shawn Martinez in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that require two players to play continuously for the entire duration.
By 10:00 a.m. GMT on Friday, Onakoya had already played chess for 42 hours, with support growing both online and at the scene. The atmosphere is filled with African music, keeping onlookers and supporters entertained amid cheers and applause. Onakoya’s organization, Chess in Slums Africa, was founded in 2018 with the goal of supporting the education of at least 1 million children in slums across the continent. The record attempt is described as being “for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.”
Throughout the marathon, Onakoya and his opponent are only allowed five minutes of rest for every hour of gameplay. These breaks are sometimes grouped together, with Onakoya using them to engage with supporters and even join in on the dancing. Within the first 20 hours of the attempt, a total of $22,000 was raised with overwhelming support from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities, and passersby. Among those publicly supporting him are Nigeria’s former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote to Onakoya on Twitter, encouraging him to continue his effort.
Onakoya’s menu during the marathon consists of lots of water and jollof rice, a popular West African dish. The energy at the scene remains high, with spirits lifted by the support and the music. Despite facing physical fatigue, Onakoya is motivated by the cause he is supporting and is determined to break the record. The attempt is closely followed in Nigeria, where Onakoya regularly organizes chess competitions for young people living on the streets to raise awareness and support for children’s education.
As the attempt continues, Onakoya’s manager, Taiwo Adeyemi, reports that support has been overwhelming from both local and international communities. Onakoya’s efforts are seen as a symbol of hope for millions of children in Africa who are deprived of education, with more than 10 million children out of school in Nigeria alone. While the Guinness World Record organization has yet to publicly comment on Onakoya’s attempt, the possibility of reaching 58 hours by midnight on Friday could potentially set a new global record to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
