Tunde

Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian who uses chess to transform the lives of children in the slums is set to break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Chess Marathon without losing a game for 58 hours on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the New York City Times Square.

Onakoya, who is the founder of Chess in Slums Africa – a non-profit organization that aims to empower young ones in impoverished communities through chess, is embarking on this feat for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.

The 29-year-old has organized several interventions for children across slums in Lagos state including Majidun (Ikorodu), Makoko and Oshodi. As of June 2021, Chess in Slums Africa had trained over 200 children and got lifelong scholarships for 20 of them.

Onakoya’s Guinness world record attempt will take place on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the New York City Times Square by 10am and will be streamed on YouTube.

He revealed this via ‘X’ as he canvassed support from Nigerians at large. Mostly Nigerian Residents in New York.

“On the 17th of April 2024, I will attempt to break the Guinness World record for the longest Chess marathon in the heart of Times Square New York City for 58 hours without losing a game.
Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.”

Following his announcement, the Nigerian Chess master revealed that despite the difficult nature of this attempt, he is confident he would not be alone.

“This is by far one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but one thing I know for sure is I will not be alone through all of this.”

” You guys have been rock solid for me through the years, so I need all of us to come together now more than ever to show the world that the Nigerian spirit is unwavering and we can do great things from a small place against all odds”

The current longest chess marathon is 56 hr 09 min 37 sec and was achieved by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad (both Norway) in Haugesund, Norway, on November 11, 2018.

Computer science diploma holder, Tunde learned to play chess at a barber’s shop in a slum in Ikorodu, Lagos where he was raised and ended up being a gold medalist representing the Yaba College of Technology in the Nigeria Polytechnic Games and also at the RCCG Chess Championship. He has also won the National Friends of Chess and the Chevron Chess Open.

Onakoya would be looking to join, Mfon Udoh, Fela Kuti, Stephen Keshi, Bose Omolayo, Lucy Ejike, Bayo Omoboriowo, Hilda Baci and the host of other Nigerians who have broken a Guinness World Record.