A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate has broken the Guinness World Record for longest chess marathon by playing non-stop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square.
Tunde Onakoya, 29, hopes to raise $1 million for the education of children across Africa through a record attempt that began on Wednesday.
He had planned to play the Royal Game for 58 hours, but he kept going until he reached 60 hours at about 12:40 a.m. Saturday, setting the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, set by Norway's Halvard Haug in 2018. The time exceeded 9 minutes and 37 seconds. Fratebo and Sujur Felkingstad.
The Guinness World Records Organization has yet to publicly comment on Onakoya's attempt. It may take several weeks for the organization to verify new records.
Onakoya competed against American chess champion Sean Martinez in line with Guinness World Records guidelines that two players must play continuously to break a record.
Support has been growing both online and in the field, with the African fusion of music continuing to entertain onlookers and supporters amidst cheers and applause. Among the dozens of people who cheered Onakoya on the scene was Nigerian music star Davido.
Onakoya, who founded Chess in Slams Africa in 2018, said the record attempt was “for the dreams of millions of children across Africa who lack access to education.” The organization hopes to support the education of at least one million children in slums across Africa. .
“My energy is 100 percent right now because the people here are supporting me with music,” Onakoya said Thursday night, as the players crossed the 24-hour mark.
Onakoya's menu: Lots of water and jollof rice, one of West Africa's most famous dishes.
For each game period, Onakoya and his opponent got only five minutes of rest. Breaks were sometimes held in batches, and Onakoya used them to catch up with cheering Nigerians and New Yorkers. He would sometimes join in their dances.
Onakoya manager Taiwo Adeyemi said a total of $22,000 was raised within the first 20 hours of the effort.
“There has been overwhelming support from Nigerians in the United States, world leaders, celebrities, and hundreds of passersby,” he said.
Onakoya's efforts have attracted attention in Nigeria, where chess tournaments are regularly held for young people living on the streets.
More than 10 million school-age children are out of school in the West African country. This is one of the highest percentages in the world.
Among those publicly supporting him are celebrities and public officials, including Nigeria's former vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote to Onakoya on social media platform X: It's a small place. ”
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This version corrects that Osinbajo is a former vice president of Nigeria, not the current vice president.
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Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.
