By Seyi Babalola
Tunde Onakoya, the visionary behind Chess in Slums Africa, is gearing up for another bold attempt at the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous chess game.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) this past Saturday, Onakoya revealed plans to play chess non-stop for 70 hours in New York City’s iconic Times Square, from April 17 to 20.
This extraordinary feat isn’t just about setting records—Onakoya aims to use the marathon to generate support for building free schools for homeless children across Nigeria.
This marks his second attempt at the record. In April 2024, he completed an impressive 60-hour chess session alongside American chess master Shawn Martinez.
That effort shattered the previous 56-hour record set in 2018 by Norway’s Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.
However, their achievement was short-lived. Just two months later, a new 61-hour record was set by another pair of Norwegian players, reclaiming the title.
Now, Onakoya and Martinez are returning with a mission: to raise the bar to 70 hours and shine a global spotlight on a cause close to their hearts.
“My dream is to inspire the world and build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria,” Onakoya said.
Joining him at Times Square will be five young talents from Chess in Slums Africa—children who, as he puts it, “have proven that greatness can emerge from the humblest beginnings.” They’ll participate briefly during the event, adding a powerful human touch to the campaign.
“This is an open invitation to every chess enthusiast in New York City,” Onakoya added. “Come play. Come be part of something bigger.”