Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, has again broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, crossing the 61-hour mark in New York City alongside American chess champion Shawn Martinez.
The duo surpassed the previous benchmark of 61 hours early Sunday morning and is now pushing toward an ambitious 70-hour goal. The marathon, staged at the heart of Times Square, began on Wednesday, April 17, and is expected to end Sunday, April 20.
Announcing the milestone via X (formerly Twitter), Onakoya wrote, “For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record!”
But the chess campaign, according to Onakoya, is about more than just setting a record. “It’s been over 50 hours of chess beneath the lights of Times Square. Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance,” he shared. “If your heart has ever burned for something bigger than yourself, come find us. Stand with us.”
Onakoya emphasised that the marathon aims to raise awareness and funds to establish Nigeria’s largest tuition-free school for homeless children. “Proceeds from my limited edition chess sets will go directly towards our fundraising goal,” he stated. “Because no child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival.”
In a separate post, he reflected on the emotional and symbolic weight of the challenge: “If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do? Sometimes the world won’t hand you 70 hours on a golden platter. Sometimes, you have to carve it out of your own breath, your own becoming. 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.”
The event has drawn global attention and featured heartwarming moments, including a visit from Martinez’s wife and their newborn twins. Young children were also invited to participate briefly, reinforcing the educational and community-driven spirit behind the initiative.
This is Onakoya’s second attempt at breaking the marathon chess record. In April 2024, he and Martinez completed 60 hours, eclipsing the then-record of 56 hours set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018. However, that record was overtaken just two months later by another Norwegian duo who clocked 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.
Now, a year later, Onakoya and Martinez are determined to reclaim the title—this time with a record that may stand for much longer.
