The founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, is planning to try over again to set the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon.
Onakoya stated his plan to play chess for 70 hours at Times Square, New York City, from April 17 to April 20 in a post made via X on Saturday.
He claimed that he is breaking the record in order to get support for the construction of free schools in Nigeria for children who are homeless. Onakoya will be trying to break the coveted record for the second time.
In April 2024, he completed a 60-hour chess marathon, playing alongside US chess master Shawn Martinez.
That feat had surpassed the previous 56-hour record held by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, set in 2018.
However, Onakoya’s record was eclipsed just two months later in June 2024 when two other Norwegian players achieved a 61-hour marathon.
Onakoya said he and Martinez will attempt to break that record and set a new one for 70 hours.
“My dream is to inspire the world, and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria,” he said.
He said he will be joined by five children from Chess in Slums Africa, who “have shown all of us that it is possible to do great things from a small place”.
“They will only join in for a few hours. This is an open call to every chess player in New York City to come and challenge them,” he added.
