Nigerian chess maestro and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Teaming up with U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez, the duo surpassed the previous 61-hour mark, pushing their limit to an astonishing 62 hours — with hopes of stretching it beyond 70.
Sharing the milestone on X (formerly Twitter), Onakoya wrote: “For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record! ‘If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do? Sometimes, you have to carve it out of your own breath, your own becoming. Not for applause. Not for records. But for the quiet dreamers who need to see someone leap—so they know it’s possible to fly. Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance. If your heart has ever burned for something bigger than yourself, come find us. Stand with us.’”
The marathon, which commenced on April 17 in the heart of Times Square, New York, goes beyond the pursuit of a title. It serves as a powerful campaign to raise awareness and funds for Onakoya’s mission — building Nigeria’s largest free school dedicated to homeless children, offering them hope through education.
This latest feat follows a similar effort in April 2024, when Onakoya and Martinez completed a 60-hour session, temporarily setting a new record. Their victory was short-lived, however, as a Norwegian pair soon edged past them with a 61-hour stretch.
Now, one year later, the duo has returned with renewed determination — not only to reclaim the title but also to amplify the voices of the underserved. Through this symbolic and physically demanding challenge, Onakoya continues to inspire the world, one move at a time.
