Tunde Onakoya breaks Chess World Report, goals for 70-hour milestone [PHOTOS]

Nigerian chess grasp and founding father of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has formally damaged the Guinness World Report for the longest chess marathon, surpassing the earlier document of 61 hours, 3 minutes and 34 seconds.

Onakoya, alongside his chess companion Shawn Martinez, crossed the 62-hour mark within the early hours of Sunday, April 20, at Instances Sq. in New York Metropolis. The duo, nonetheless, are usually not stopping there — they’re now pushing towards a 70-hour milestone, which is predicted to conclude later at present.

“For all of the dreamers! We’ve formally damaged the document!” Onakoya introduced through his official X (previously Twitter) deal with on Sunday morning.

The marathon, which started on Wednesday, April 17, is greater than only a take a look at of endurance. Onakoya says it’s a daring name to motion — to lift world consciousness and funds for a tuition-free college for homeless kids in Nigeria.

“In the event you had 70 hours to alter the world, what would you do?” he posted.

“Each transfer, each hour, is a love letter to kids who’ve by no means identified the posh of a second probability.”

Pictures shared on-line present Onakoya and Martinez locked in deep focus beneath the dazzling lights of Instances Sq..

In a single heartfelt second, Martinez’s spouse visited the venue with their new child twins, providing a heat household contact to the extreme chess duel.

Kids had been additionally invited to take part for just a few hours, mentioning the occasion’s give attention to youth empowerment.

That is Onakoya’s second try on the document. In April 2024, he and Martinez accomplished a 60-hour marathon, beating the 2018 document set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.

Nevertheless, their title was short-lived when one other Norwegian pair prolonged the document to 61 hours in June 2024.

Now, one 12 months later, the Nigerian-American workforce is decided to not solely reclaim the title but additionally create a long-lasting influence on hundreds of susceptible kids throughout Africa.

Proceeds from the occasion, together with gross sales of restricted version chess units, will go towards the development of what Onakoya envisions as “the most important free college for homeless kids in Nigeria.”

“No baby ought to ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival,” he stated. “No dream ought to be buried beneath the load of poverty.”