Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian man, set the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon by playing for nearly five straight days in Times Square in New York City. Onakoya began his 60-hour chess game on Wednesday, April 17, and ended it at 12:40 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, breaking the previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds. The rules of the record state that a player has to play the same opponent for the entirety of the chess marathon, with both players being allowed a five-minute break for each hour of play. Onakoya played his game against American chess player Shawn Martinez and was cheered on by a crowd both online and in person throughout the attempt.
Former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo showed his support for Onakoya by reminding him of his own words: “It is possible to do great things from a small place.” Onakoya hoped to raise $1 million for children’s education in Africa through his record attempt, having already raised $22,000 on the first day. Chess in Slums Africa, an organization founded by Onakoya, aims to teach children living in extreme poverty how to play chess and secure lifelong scholarships for them. The website for the organization states that chess is used as a tool for socioeconomic transformation and has helped over 200 children from indigent homes.
The support for Onakoya’s record attempt was overwhelming, with Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities, and hundreds of passersby cheering him on. Aside from the chess marathon, there are many other Guinness World Records related to chess games, chess pieces, and chess sets. The record for the largest chess piece is currently held by a 20-foot-tall king piece at the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis, Missouri. On the smaller end of the spectrum, the record for the smallest handmade chess set belongs to Ara Davidi Ghazaryan of Los Angeles, who made an 8mm-by-8mm chess set with individual pieces ranging from 1mm to 2.4mm tall. Additionally, the record for the most moves in a chess game is held by chess masters Ivan Nokolic and Goran Arsovic who played a 269-move game that took 20 hours and 15 minutes and ended in a draw.
As Onakoya’s energy remained at 100% at the 24-hour mark, he was driven by the support he received from those following his record attempt. The Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon has yet to be confirmed by the organization, which can take weeks. Onakoya’s passion for expanding educational opportunities for poor children in Africa is evident through his organization Chess in Slums Africa, which has secured lifelong scholarships for over 200 children living in poverty. The record attempt not only pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the game of chess but also aimed to make a positive impact on the lives of children in need.
