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Tunde Onakoya: Nigerian attempts to break chess marathon record Tunde Onakoya: Nigerian breaks chess marathon record
(about 20 hours later)
Tunde Onakoya is set to finish his attempt on Friday night Tunde Onakoya broke the record on Friday night
Under the beaming lights of New York's iconic Times Square, Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya is attempting an ambitious challenge to break the record for the longest chess marathon. Under the beaming lights of New York's iconic Times Square, Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has broken the record for the longest chess marathon.
He aims to play for 58 consecutive hours and raise $1m (£805,000) for charity in the process. After playing for 58 consecutive hours he was still at the board.
The money, he says, will support chess education for millions of children. Onakoya hopes to raise $1m (£805,000) for charity to support chess education for millions of children.
Hundreds of supporters have shown up to cheer on the chess master, including Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido. Hundreds of supporters from the city's Nigerian community have shown up to cheer on the chess master, including Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido.
The Nigerian community in New York has rallied behind their compatriot, providing Mr Onakoya with music and energising him with supplies of classic Nigerian dishes, including the beloved national staple, jollof rice. They provided music and energised him with supplies of classic Nigerian dishes, including the beloved national staple, jollof rice.
Back home in Nigeria, people are throwing their support behind Onakoya as they watch him try to conquer the record on Twitch, a video-streaming service. Back home in Nigeria, people threw their support behind Onakoya as they watched him conquer the record on Twitch, a video-streaming service.
Supporters left messages on the stream commending Onakoya as an inspiration.
"Thank you for daring to dream and showing us the levels to which we can all take our brain power to! Well done Tunde! I'm going to pick up my chess board back haha," one commenter wrote.
"Mr Onakoya is a symbol of excellence and resilience that distinguish Nigerians both at home and abroad... Go, make history, and inscribe our name in gold," Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima posted on X."Mr Onakoya is a symbol of excellence and resilience that distinguish Nigerians both at home and abroad... Go, make history, and inscribe our name in gold," Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima posted on X.
"Lagos is rooting for you," Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu told Onakoya, adding that his attempt was "a powerful testament to how greatness can emerge from anywhere"."Lagos is rooting for you," Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu told Onakoya, adding that his attempt was "a powerful testament to how greatness can emerge from anywhere".
By 03:00 on Friday New York time (07:00 GMT), Mr Onakoya had played for 39 hours and raised more than $42,000. The previous world record, recognised by Guinness World records, was 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds, which was set by Norwegian duo Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.
After crossing the halfway point, he said achieving the record was "looking possible now". Onakoya, 29, credits chess with saving him from the overwhelming poverty he faced growing up in Lagos's infamous floating slums.
He is set to play until at least 20:00 New York time on Friday, which will see him clock 58 hours and surpass the world record, recognised by Guinness World records, of 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds, which was set by Norwegian duo Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018. His non-profit, Chess in Slums Africa, teaches the game to children from poor communities and helps them with their education.
Mr Onakoya, 29, credits chess with saving him from the overwhelming poverty he faced growing up in Lagos's infamous floating slums. Onakoya is also a board member of the US non-profit The Gift of Chess, which works to transform lives through chess and is targeting to distribute one million chess sets to underserved communities by 2030.
His NGO, Chess in Slums Africa, teaches children from poor communities chess and helping them with their education.
Mr Onakoya is also a board member of the US non-profit The Gift of Chess, which works to transform lives through chess and is targeting to distribute one million chess sets to underserved communities by 2030.
More stories on record-breaking attempts:More stories on record-breaking attempts:
How world-record mania has gripped NigeriaHow world-record mania has gripped Nigeria
Guinness confirms Nigerian chef's world recordGuinness confirms Nigerian chef's world record
Ghanaian ends 126-hour Christmas singing marathonGhanaian ends 126-hour Christmas singing marathon
Related TopicsRelated Topics
NigeriaNigeria
New York City
ChessChess