Nigerian chess whiz Tunde Onakoya is about to face his toughest opponent yet: sleep deprivation. But this isn’t your average all-nighter fueled by caffeine. Onakoya is on a mission to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, all while raising awareness for a cause close to his heart – education for underprivileged children in Africa.
For 58 grueling hours, Onakoya will battle it out on the checkered battlefield in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, starting April 17th. This isn’t just about personal glory for the chess prodigy.
Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, sees the game as a powerful tool for social good. His organization uses chess to equip disadvantaged youth with valuable skills and mentorship opportunities.
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 isn’t just about me,” Onakoya declared on social media. “It’s for the millions of African children who lack access to education.”
His drive stems from a place of deep empathy. Growing up with limited resources himself, Onakoya understands the struggles these children face.
“We knew the pain,” he shared in an interview with Channels Television. “The pain of not having access, that’s the real tragedy.”
Fueled by his own experiences and a desire to empower others, Onakoya hopes to not only break the current record of 56 hours (held by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad) but also use his platform to champion education in Africa.
