Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums, Tunde Onakoya, alongside his U.S. counterpart, Shawn Martinez, has officially set a new Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon of 64 hours.
Announcing this in a series of posts on X.com on Sunday, Onakoya revealed that they have been officially certified by GWR as a validation of their achievement.
Sharing pictures of himself and Martinez with the certificate, Onakoya wrote, “We did the impossible and gave the world something new to believe in. Official record holders of the Longest Chess Marathon for 64 hours. We did it. It’s time to go home.”
“It is possible to do great things from a small place.”
He also congratulated Martinez saying, “Officially amazing! Congrats on our shared achievement Shawn Martinez!”
PUNCH Online reports that the chess marathon, which took place at the iconic Times Square in New York City, began on Wednesday, April 17, and concluded on Sunday, April 20.
At one point during the challenge, Martinez’s wife brought their newborn twins to the site, offering a touching family moment amid the intense competition.
Children were also invited to play chess for a few hours during the event.
This win marks Onakoya’s second time breaking the prestigious record.
In April 2024, he completed a 60-hour chess marathon alongside Martinez, surpassing the 56-hour record previously set in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.
However, their achievement was short-lived, when another pair of Norwegian players set a new record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds just two months later in June 2024.
One year after, Onakoya and Martinez embarked on a 70-hour chess marathon to reclaim the title, ultimately setting a new world record after playing for 64 hours.
Onakoya also emphasised that the goal of this marathon is not just to claim the record but to raise awareness and support for building the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.
“To build a tuition-free school for homeless children. This is a dream I’ve carried for years. Because no child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival. No dream should be buried beneath the weight of poverty,” Onakoya said.
