Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess master, and coach, is set to make history with a 58-hour chess marathon in Times Square, New York City on April 17.
Onakoya plans to play chess continuously for 58 hours without conceding a single game. His motivation for this endeavor is to champion the aspirations of millions of underprivileged children across Africa who lack access to education. He believes chess can be a powerful tool to unlock their potential.
“Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education. You guys have been rock solid for me through the years.”
“So I need all of us to come together now more than ever to show the world that the Nigerian spirit is unwavering and we can do great things from a small place against all odds.”
Through this record-breaking attempt, Onakoya aims to raise $50,000 to bring chess education and opportunities to 5,000 children in Africa via his organization, Chess in Slums Africa.
The current Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, set by two Norwegians in 2018. Onakoya is aiming to surpass this record by playing for 58 continuous hours.
Onakoya, a chess prodigy grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and learned to play chess at a barber’s shop. “Whenever I was there to play PlayStation 1, the barber would bring out a chessboard and play with his friends. Once I saw the carved pieces, it was love at first sight. I begged him to teach me how to play, but he’d ignore me. Eventually, I learnt how to play and the rules of the game by watching matches between him and his friends,” Onakoy said in an interview with Zikoko mag
Despite financial challenges, he was able to earn scholarships to represent his schools in chess tournaments and later graduated with a diploma in computer science from Yaba College of Technology.
He was ranked as the 13th-best chess player in Nigeria. In 2018, he founded the non-profit organization Chess in Slums Africa, which aims to empower underprivileged children in African communities through the game of chess.
Through Chess in Slums Africa, Onakoya has engaged over 10,000 children across slums in Lagos, providing them with chess education, literacy training, and scholarship opportunities.
Onakoya’s work with Chess in Slums Africa has already impacted over 10,000 children, providing them with chess education, literacy training, and scholarship opportunities.
His dedication has been recognized with numerous awards, including The Future Awards Africa Prize for Community Action, the Business Insider Award for Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Award. He is an eloquent speaker and advocate for using chess as a tool to unlock the potential of marginalized communities in Africa.
