Nigerian chess master and humanitarian, Tunde Onakoya, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon after playing continuously for 64 hours in New York City.
Onakoya, famed for his “Chess in Slums” initiative, partnered with American National Chess Master Shawn Martinez for the feat, which took place at Times Square from Thursday, April 17 to Sunday, April 20, 2025. The duo surpassed the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds set in June 2024 by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.
Though the new record was already broken at the 62-hour mark, Onakoya and Martinez extended their gameplay to 64 hours — a symbolic nod to the number of squares on a chess board.
“We stopped at 64 hours because it’s the total number of squares on the chess board. It felt like the right thing (poetic) to do,” Onakoya said.
This record-breaking effort marked Onakoya’s second attempt at the title. His first, in April 2024, ran for 60 hours but was not officially recognized despite drawing global attention.
Beyond the record, Onakoya’s mission was rooted in purpose. Through the marathon, he aimed to raise $1 million to establish free schools for homeless and underprivileged children across Africa.
Known for transforming the lives of children in slum communities through chess, Onakoya has empowered many with educational opportunities, including those with physical disabilities and traumatic backgrounds.
The successful chess marathon has been met with widespread celebration, with President Bola Tinubu and numerous Nigerians at home and abroad congratulating Onakoya on his achievement, hailing it as a proud moment for the nation.
