Nigerian chess star Tunde Onakoya officially breaks Guinness World Record for longest chess marathon
Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has officially entered the history books by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, clocking in an extraordinary 64 hours of continuous play.
Surpassing the previous 61-hour benchmark set by Norwegian players, Onakoya’s feat is not just a triumph of endurance but also a powerful act of purpose.
The chess marathon began on April 17, alongside U.S. National Master Shawn Martinez.
“For all the dreamers! We’ve officially BROKEN THE RECORD,” Onakoya shared in a jubilant post on X (formerly Twitter).
Adding, “Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance.”
Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, had the aim of raising $1 million toward building a free school for homeless and underserved children in Nigeria.
“If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do? 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,” he wrote.
This record-setting is yet another milestone for the 29-year-old who, in 2024, played chess for 60 hours straight in a personal challenge.
