Tunde Onakoya Breaks Again: Nigerian Chess Champion Smashes World Record in 70-Hour Times Square Marathon
Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that Nigerian chess master and social impact advocate, Tunde Onakoya, has once again etched his name in the Guinness World Records, surpassing the previous record for the longest chess marathon.
OTN News further reports that Onakoya, partnered with U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez, played non-stop chess for over 62 hours as of Sunday, April 20, with the duo setting their sights on an ambitious 70-hour milestone.
“We’ve officially broken the record!” Onakoya declared in a jubilant post on X (formerly Twitter), rallying global supporters with the tagline “For all the dreamers!”
OTN News reports that Onakoya, after surpassing the 50-hour mark, stressed that the goal of the marathon is not just to break a record but to raise awareness and support for building the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.
He wrote: “If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do? 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.”
OTN News observes that this marks Onakoya’s second pursuit of the prestigious record. In April 2024, he and Martinez shattered the standing 56-hour record by playing for 60 hours.
However, their achievement was eclipsed just two months later by a Norwegian duo who reached 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.
Now, exactly one year later, Onakoya has reclaimed the spotlight with a renewed determination and a mission steeped in social change.
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