Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
He crossed the 62-hour mark on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Times Square in New York City.
Onakoya played alongside United States chess master, Shawn Martinez. The duo broke the former record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds set in 2024 by two Norwegians. Onakoya now aims to reach a 70-hour milestone before ending the challenge.
Sharing the news on X, Onakoya wrote, “For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record!”
He explained that the marathon is more than a record attempt. “If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do?” he wrote. “Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance.”
He also said proceeds from the sale of his limited edition chess sets would go towards building a free school for homeless children in Nigeria. “This is a dream I’ve carried for years. No child should have their childhood sacrificed for survival,” he added.
The chess marathon began on Wednesday, April 17, and is expected to end Sunday, April 20. It has drawn attention from supporters around the world. At one point, Martinez’s wife brought their newborn twins to the event. Children were also allowed to play for some hours during the event.
This marks Onakoya’s second attempt at the record. In 2024, he played for 60 hours but the record was overtaken by the Norwegians just two months later.
Now, with history already made, Onakoya and Martinez are pushing toward their final goal—70 hours of non-stop chess.
