Tunde Onakoya breaks Chess World Record, aims for 70-hour milestone [PHOTOS]

Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, surpassing the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes and 34 seconds.

Onakoya, alongside his chess partner Shawn Martinez, crossed the 62-hour mark in the early hours of Sunday, April 20, at Times Square in New York City. The duo, however, are not stopping there — they are now pushing toward a 70-hour milestone, which is expected to conclude later today.

“For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record!”; Onakoya announced via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday morning.

The marathon, which began on Wednesday, April 17, is more than just a test of endurance. Onakoya says it's a bold call to action — to raise global awareness and funds for a tuition-free school for homeless children in Nigeria.

“If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do?”; he posted.

“Every move, every hour, is a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance.”;

Photos shared online show Onakoya and Martinez locked in deep concentration beneath the dazzling lights of Times Square.

In one heartfelt moment, Martinez’s wife visited the venue with their newborn twins, offering a warm family touch to the intense chess duel.

Children were also invited to participate for a few hours, pointing out the event’s focus on youth empowerment.

This is Onakoya’s second attempt at the record. In April 2024, he and Martinez completed a 60-hour marathon, beating the 2018 record set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.

However, their title was short-lived when another Norwegian pair extended the record to 61 hours in June 2024.

Now, one year later, the Nigerian-American team is determined to not only reclaim the title but also create a lasting impact on thousands of vulnerable children across Africa.

Proceeds from the event, including sales of limited edition chess sets, will go toward the construction of what Onakoya envisions as “the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.”;

“No child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival,”; he said. “No dream should be buried beneath the weight of poverty.”;