LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon by reaching the 58-hour mark.
Onakoya currently aims to reach the 60-hour target.
The Chess master confirmed this in a post on his official X account.
He wrote, “We have done it.
“We’re pushing to 60 hours guys. We’re not stopping yet. Let’s keep going.
“We have a fundraising goal to meet for the education of African children around the world. This is our why – the reason we are doing this.
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“Let’s demonstrate to the world the incredible power of love. Together, we can make this happen.
Onakoya surpassed the previous world record set at 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.
On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 7:39pm EST (12:39am WAT), Onakoya achieved a new record during the chess marathon by completing the game in 56 minutes, 10 minutes faster than the previous record since the marathon’s start at 11:30am EST (4:30pm WAT).
Onakoya, who teamed up with US chess master, Shawn Martinez is still going and wants to set a new world record of 58 hours unbeaten, which he says will be extended to 60 hours to accommodate all interruptions.
The challenge, which is underway at New York City’s iconic Times Square, has currently exceeded 58 hours, and Onakoya is yet to lose after more than 200 games played.
The new record holder said his attempt was to raise $1million and awareness for providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children across Africa.
“We’re doing this to raise funds for our project to be able to give millions of children with access to education the opportunity they deserve to learn. Let us raise the money that is needed so all of this won’t be in vain. We’re doing this to the very end, we started already. The rest is just a matter of tenacity,” he said about the event.
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So far, through his non-profit, Chess in Slums Africa and charity organisation The Gift of Chess, Onakoya has been able to raise over $81,000.
Meanwhile, Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Singer Davido, and Adekunle Gold, have all shown support for Onakoya to break the new record.