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Nigerian chess champion and Chess in Slums Africa founder, Tunde Onakoya, has shattered the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, surpassing the previous record of 61 hours.
On Sunday, Onakoya, alongside U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez, broke the 62-hour barrier and is now targeting an ambitious 70-hour milestone. Onakoya shared the achievement on X, exclaiming: “For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record!”
However, Onakoya stressed that the marathon was not solely about setting a record but also aimed at raising awareness and garnering support for his initiative to build the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.
“If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do?” he wrote. “Sometimes the world won’t hand you 70 hours on a golden platter. 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.
“It’s been over 50 hours of chess beneath the lights of Times Square. 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.
“Proceeds from my limited edition chess sets will go directly towards our fundraising goal: to build a tuition-free school for homeless children. This is a dream I’ve carried for years. Because no child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival. No dream should be buried beneath the weight of poverty.”
The marathon, which began on Wednesday, April 17, at New York City’s famous Times Square, is expected to conclude on Sunday, April 20.
During the event, Martinez’s wife brought their newborn twins to the venue, offering a touching family moment amidst the intense challenge. Children were also invited to participate, playing chess for a few hours, which added to the event’s community atmosphere.
This marks Onakoya’s second attempt at setting the world record. In April 2024, Onakoya and Martinez completed a 60-hour chess marathon, surpassing the 56-hour record set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018. However, their record was short-lived as another pair of Norwegian players broke it with a new mark of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds just two months later in June 2024.
A year later, Onakoya and Martinez embarked on their 70-hour chess marathon to reclaim the title and establish a new world record.
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