NIGERIAN chess champion and child education advocate, 29-year-old Tunde Onakoya, has played chess nonstop for 58 hours in New York City’s Times Square, United States (US) to earn the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in the world.
Onakoya, is hopeful to raise a huge sum of $1 million for children’s education across Africa through the record attempt that began on Wednesday, April 17.
It was gathered that he crossed the 58-hour mark about 02:30 a.m. GMT on Saturday,April 20, surpassing the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, nine minutes and 37 seconds, set in 2018 by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, both from Norway.
However, despite Onakoya’s feat, the Guinness World Record organisation was yet to publicly comment about his attempt, as it sometimes takes weeks for the organisation to confirm any new record.
The Nigerian played against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that any attempt to break the record must be made by two players who would play continuously for the entire duration.
Support had been growing online and at the scene, where a blend of African music kept onlookers and supporters entertained, amid cheers and applause.
