By Ghazali Ibrahim 
Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, surpassing the previous record of 61 hours.
Onakoya, alongside U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez, crossed the 62-hour mark on Sunday, April 20, in Times Square, New York City—and is pushing toward a new target of 70 hours.
In a celebratory post on X (formerly Twitter), Onakoya shared his excitement with supporters around the world: “For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record!”
But beyond the record-breaking moment, Onakoya emphasized that the marathon was part of a larger mission: to raise awareness and funds for Nigeria’s largest free school project, aimed at providing education for homeless and vulnerable children.
The marathon began on Wednesday, April 17, and by the time the duo crossed the 50-hour mark, it was clear this was more than just a test of endurance. It was a heartfelt campaign for change.
Onakoya’s message resonated with supporters:
“If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do?” he wrote. “Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance.”
This is Onakoya’s second attempt at the record.
In April 2024, he and Martinez completed a 60-hour chess marathon, breaking the 2018 record of 56 hours.
However, their record was surpassed just two months later by a pair of Norwegian players who pushed the limit to 61 hours.
Now, with the bar raised once again, Onakoya has reclaimed the title—this time with the goal of using his platform to inspire and uplift disadvantaged children.
