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Tunde Onakoya Set to Break 70-Hour Chess Marathon Record in Times Square

Published

2 days ago

14/04/2025

Tunde Onakoya, the founder of the Chess in Slums Africa initiative, is gearing up for an exciting attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.

This attempt is set to take place in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, where Onakoya plans to play chess non-stop for a staggering 70 hours. The event is scheduled for April 17 to 20, 2025.

Onakoya’s determination to break the record is not solely about personal achievement. His broader goal is to use the spotlight from this world record attempt to raise awareness for a noble cause, building the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.

In a social media post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Onakoya outlined his vision for the event.,“There is a new world record for 61 hours set by two Norwegian players,” Onakoya wrote.

“On April 17, we will attempt to break that record and set a new one for 70 hours. My dream is to inspire the world and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.”

The world record for the longest chess marathon was previously held by two Norwegian players, who played for 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.

Onakoya’s attempt to surpass this record marks his second bid for the prestigious title, and it’s part of his ongoing efforts to use chess as a platform for positive social change.

He went on to share that he won’t be alone in the marathon. Onakoya will be joined by a group of children from the Chess in Slums initiative, who will play alongside him for a few hours. These kids, who have been part of his journey, serve as an inspiration, showing that greatness can emerge from humble beginnings.

“This isn’t just about the record,” Onakoya continued. “It’s about proving that anything is possible, no matter where you come from. These children have already shown that.”

Non-profit chess organization The Gift of Chess also confirmed the challenge in a tweet, stating, “Starting April 17th, #Tunde_OD🇳🇬 & #CoachShawnMar🇵🇷 will attempt 70 hours of non-stop chess in the heart of Times Square, NYC.

They are aiming to break their previous record of 60 hours and surpass the current #GWR record set by two Norwegians at 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.” This is not Onakoya’s first attempt to break the world record. In April 2024, he successfully completed a 60-hour chess marathon alongside U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez.

This achievement briefly surpassed the previous record of 56 hours set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018. However, their success was short-lived, as two more Norwegian players broke the record just two months later in June 2024.

Now, Onakoya and Martinez are back for another shot at the record, this time aiming for a 70-hour marathon in one of the busiest and most iconic locations in the world, Times Square. Onakoya’s commitment to combining a record-breaking attempt with a meaningful cause makes this event even more important.

As Onakoya prepares for the challenge, the chess community and supporters of the Chess in Slums Africa initiative are rallying behind him. His efforts have already made a lasting impact on communities in Nigeria, and this new endeavor promises to bring even more attention to the power of education and the transformative ability of chess.