Tunde Onakoya Set to Break 70-Hour Chess Record

• Onakoya and U.S. National Master Shawn Martinez will collaborate to break the current record of 61 hours set by two Norwegian players.

Nigerian chess master and education advocate Tunde Onakoya is preparing for an extraordinary challenge as he sets out to break the world record for the longest chess marathon — targeting 70 continuous hours of gameplay in New York’s Times Square from April 17 to 20.

Onakoya, the visionary behind the Chess in Slums Africa initiative, will partner with U.S. National Chess Master Shawn Martinez to surpass the current official benchmark of 61 hours, recently achieved by two players from Norway.

But this is more than just a test of endurance. Onakoya aims to use the global spotlight to rally support for his greater mission — building Nigeria’s largest free school for homeless children.

“My goal is to inspire the world and secure resources to create a massive, tuition-free school for Nigeria’s homeless kids,” he stated.

As part of the event, some children trained under his Chess in Slums Africa project will participate briefly to showcase their talents and resilience, highlighting how success can emerge from underprivileged communities.

Onakoya has also invited chess lovers across New York City to join in and challenge him and his team during the marathon.

This effort follows his groundbreaking feat in April 2024, when he and Martinez recorded a 60-hour chess session, surpassing the previous Guinness World Record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds held since 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.

Now, with his sights set on the 70-hour mark, Onakoya is not just chasing a record — he’s championing a future where every child has a chance to learn, dream, and thrive