Nigerian chess prodigy Tunde Onakoya is embarking on an ambitious quest – to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, all while raising awareness for the educational needs of underprivileged children in Africa.
Onakoya will attempt to play chess continuously for a staggering 58 hours, aiming for an undefeated streak, in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. The event kicks off at 10 am on April 17th and concludes on April 19th at 8 pm.
This isn’t just a personal challenge for Onakoya. He is the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, a program that uses chess as a tool to empower disadvantaged youth through education and mentorship.
On the 17th of April 2024, I will attempt to break the Guiness World record for the longest Chess marathon in the heart of Times Square New York City for 58 hours without losing a game.
Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education. pic.twitter.com/MlGm7Mvmmd
— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD) April 12, 2024“This endeavor is dedicated to the dreams of millions of children across Africa who lack educational opportunities,” Onakoya declared on Twitter. His personal experiences growing up with limited access fuel his passion for this cause.
“We knew the pain of hunger… the pain of not having access,” Onakoya shared on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. “That’s the real tragedy of poverty.”
Onakoya’s dedication and empathy are the driving forces behind his record attempt. He aspires to be the role model he never had and pave the way for a brighter future for countless African children.
The current record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds was set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in November 2018. Onakoya aims to surpass this mark and use his feat to shine a light on the importance of education in Africa.