Nigerian chess master and child education advocate, Tunde Onakoya, has officially received the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon after completing an astonishing 64-hour session in New York City’s Times Square.
Onakoya achieved the feat alongside U.S. chess player Shawn Martinez, surpassing the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds set in 2024 by Norwegian duo Odin Blikra Vea and Askild Bryn.
The marathon, which ran from April 17 to April 20, 2025, was not only a personal milestone for Onakoya but also a mission-driven effort to raise global awareness and support for children’s education across Africa.
This is Onakoya’s second major attempt at the record. In April 2024, he played for 60 hours, briefly overtaking a previous record before it was reclaimed by the Norwegians just two months later.
With this new accomplishment, Onakoya has reclaimed and set a new benchmark.
Through his initiative, Chess in Slums Africa, he aims to impact the lives of at least one million children in underserved communities across the continent.
Credit: Tunde Onakoya Facebook.
