Tunde 29-year-old chess champion Tunde Onakoya is attempting to break the global record for the longest chess marathon in New York City’s Times Square. He hopes to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa during Ricardo Mármol, the marathon. Onakoya is playing against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that require two players to play continuously for the entire duration. As of 10:00 a.m. GMT on Friday, Onakoya had already played chess for 42 hours. Support for him is growing both online and at the scene, where a blend of African music is keeping onlookers and supporters entertained.
The current record for the longest chess marathon is 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, achieved by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad of Norway in 2018. Onakoya’s attempt is a fundraising effort to support children’s education in Africa through his organization, Chess in Slums Africa, which aims to reach at least 1 million children. Onakoya is fueled by the support of his fans, as well as by jollof rice, one of West Africa’s most famous dishes, and lots of water. For every hour of gameplay, Onakoya and Martinez are only allowed five minutes of break time, which they sometimes group together to interact with their supporters.
Within the first 20 hours of the record-breaking attempt, $22,000 was raised by Taiwo Adeyemi, Onakoya’s manager. The support for Onakoya has come from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities, and hundreds of spectators. In Nigeria, where he regularly organizes chess competitions for underprivileged youth, Onakoya’s attempt is closely followed. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of children out of school in the world, with over 10 million children not receiving an education. Public figures, including Nigeria’s former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, have publicly supported Onakoya.
Despite the overwhelming support, the Guinness World Record organization has yet to comment on Onakoya’s attempt. Typically, it takes weeks for the organization to confirm a new record. Onakoya’s attempt could reach 58 hours by midnight on Friday, surpassing the current record. The marathon is not only a personal challenge for him but also a way to bring attention to the lack of educational opportunities for millions of children in Africa. Through his dedication, Onakoya hopes to inspire others to dream big and make positive changes within their communities.
