Guinness World Record: Tunde Onakoya's Father Reveals That He Was In Support Of His Son Playing Chess [Video]

Image: Daily Post

Pa Onakoya, the father of Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya, has shared a surprising revelation about his initial reluctance to support his son's interest in chess. He admitted that when Tunde was younger, he would interrupt his chess games to encourage him to prioritize his education.

Speaking to City Edge TV during a sideline interview at Lagos airport, Pa Onakoya reflected on his son's journey to breaking the Guinness World Record. He joined his wife and other well-wishers to give Tunde a heroic welcome, showcasing their pride in his remarkable achievement.

He said, “To me, Babatunde Onakoya is an angel because whatever he set his mind on you must succeed.

“As a small child, when Tunde was playing chess, I usually packed everything away from him because I wanted him to focus on school. I didn’t know that it was what would make him popular like this.

“My advice for parents is that they shouldn’t discourage their children from their passions. I wanted Tunde to be a doctor but I didn’t know that chess would make him popular like this. I thank God.”

Tunde Onakoya made headlines recently by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest-ever chess marathon. His impressive feat, achieved at Times Square in New York, United States, saw him play continuously for an astonishing 60 hours.

This accomplishment surpassed the previous record set by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who played for 56 hours and 9 minutes in 2018.

See the moment Tunde's dad and mum welcome him when he returns back to the country below:

Tunde & his parents ❤️❤️

The Joy 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/3ghtqpBWzo

— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) April 24, 2024

Source: Daily Post

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#Guinness World Record
#Chess