A new milestone has been reached by Nigerian chess aficionado, Tunde Onakoya, who recently established a fresh Guinness World Record by engaging in the longest-ever continuous chess marathon.
Onakoya himself confirmed this monumental feat through a post on his official X account.
In his words, “Mission accomplished.
“Our next target is the 60-hour mark, folks. The momentum is strong and we are forging ahead steadfastly.
He further stated, “Our primary aim is to raise funds for the education of underprivileged African children globally. This is the core motivation behind our endeavor.
“Let us showcase to the world the incredible potency of compassion. Together, we can turn the tide.”
Onakoya surpassed the previous record set by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who competed for 56 hours and 9 minutes back in 2018, as he strived to hit the 58-hour milestone.
The ongoing challenge, taking place at the renowned Times Square in New York City, has now exceeded the 56-hour mark, firmly placing him ahead of the former record holders.
The newly crowned record holder emphasized that his endeavor aims to enhance awareness and raise resources for providing educational opportunities to disadvantaged children across Africa.
According to a statement from his foundation, Chess in Slums Africa, Onakoya will be teaming up with his American counterpart, Shawn Martinez.
It was mentioned, “This record-setting attempt necessitates a duo of players. Tunde Onakoya (NG) will square off against Shawn Martinez (US) during this extraordinary challenge. Both players boast the prestigious title of National Masters.
“Shawn Martinez, a US National Master and celebrated chess maestro in New York City, serves as a formidable rival. The title of record holder will be jointly held by Tunde Onakoya and Shawn Martinez.”
“This record pertains to the longest duration spent continuously playing chess. The time span will be recounted in hours, minutes, and seconds. A tandem of two players is mandated for this record attempt,” an additional note highlighted.
Following the initial 23 hours of the battle, Martinez joined in to help secure the new world record.
All the while, notable figures from Nigeria, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and musicians Davido and Adekunle Gold, have rallied behind Onakoya in his quest to shatter the existing record.