Tunde Onakoya Shatters Guinness World Record with 62-Hour Chess Marathon in New York

Nigerian chess maestro and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon after playing for over 62 consecutive hours.

Teaming up with U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez, the duo surpassed the previous record of 61 hours during their ongoing chess marathon at Times Square in New York City. Their ambitious goal is to push beyond the 70-hour mark, setting a new global benchmark.

Sharing the news on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Onakoya wrote:
“For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record! If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do?… Not for applause. Not for records. But for the quiet dreamers who need to see someone leap—so they know it’s possible to fly.”

More than a feat of endurance, the marathon is a fundraising campaign to support Onakoya’s mission of building Nigeria’s largest free school for homeless children. The initiative is aimed at providing quality education and life-changing opportunities to underprivileged children across the country.

Throughout the marathon, which began on April 17, Onakoya has used his platform to spotlight the challenges facing children in slum communities and call for global support.

This is not Onakoya’s first attempt at the record. In 2024, he and Martinez played for 60 hours, beating the then-record of 56 hours. However, two Norwegian players soon set a new record at 61 hours, prompting Onakoya’s return to the board this year.

Now, with 62 hours clocked and counting, Onakoya stands as a symbol of resilience and hope—not just for chess lovers, but for every child with a dream beyond their circumstances.