In the bustling heart of New York’s Times Square, Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya is currently on a mission to break the record for the longest chess marathon. His ultimate goal is to play for 58 consecutive hours and raise $1 million for charity in the process. The funds raised will go towards supporting chess education for millions of children, a cause that is close to Onakoya’s heart.
Onakoya has already garnered significant support during his marathon challenge, with hundreds of people showing up to cheer him on, including popular Nigerian musician Davido. The Nigerian community in New York has rallied behind him, providing him with music and energizing supplies of traditional Nigerian dishes like jollof rice.
Back in Nigeria, people are tuning into Twitch to watch Onakoya’s progress. As of 03:00 on Friday New York time, he had already played for 39 hours and raised over $42,000. With the support of his fans and fellow chess enthusiasts around the world, Onakoya is confident that he can break the Guinness World Record of 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds.
Chess holds a special significance for Onakoya as it was instrumental in lifting him out of poverty while growing up in Lagos. Through his NGO Chess in Slums Africa, he teaches children from underserved communities the game using it as a tool to aid their education. Additionally, Onakoya is involved with US non-profit organization The Gift of Chess which aims to distribute one million chess sets to underserved communities by 2030.
Overall, Tunde Onakoya’s journey is an inspiration not only to those who are passionate about chess but also to those who believe that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
