29-year-old Nigerian chess player, Onakoya breaks Guiness World Record

A 29- year old Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate, Tunde Onakoya  has played chess nonstop for 58 hours in New York City’s Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in the world.

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Onakoya, is hopeful to raise a huge sum of $1 million for children’s education across Africa through the record attempt that began on Wednesday.

It was gathered that he crossed the 58-hour mark at about 02:30 a.m. GMT Saturday, surpassing the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds, achieved in 2018 by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, both from Norway.

However, despite Onakoya’s feat the Guinness World Record organization has yet to publicly comment about Onakoya’s attempt. It sometimes takes weeks for the organization to confirm any new record.

The Nigerian  played against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that any attempt to break the record must be made by two players who would play continuously for the entire duration.

Support had been growing online and at the scene, where a blend of African music kept onlookers and supporters entertained amid cheers and applause.

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