Tunde Onakoya, the visionary behind Chess in Slums Africa, is gearing up for another bold attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon — this time with an even more ambitious goal.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Onakoya revealed his plans to play chess non-stop for 70 hours at New York City’s Times Square from April 17 to 20, 2025.
But for Onakoya, this is about more than setting a new record. “My dream is to inspire the world, and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria,” he said.
This marks his second pursuit of the title. In April 2024, Onakoya and U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez played for 60 hours straight, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours. That achievement was short-lived, however, as another pair from Norway surpassed them in June with a 61-hour session.
Now, Onakoya and Martinez are back, aiming to reclaim the crown with a 70-hour endurance challenge.
Adding to the emotional power of the event, five children from the Chess in Slums Africa program will be making the trip to New York with Onakoya. While they won’t be part of the full marathon, they will take to the board for a few hours.
“Great things can come from small places,” Onakoya noted, emphasizing how the presence of the children reflects the heart of his mission.
He’s also encouraging local chess lovers in NYC to join the experience by playing friendly games with the young talents.
This challenge combines grit, inspiration, and a deep commitment to creating opportunity — one move at a time.
