A chess player from New York embarked on a mission to raise funds for his charity by attempting to break the world record for the longest chess marathon.
In 2018, Tunde Onakoya, a teacher, established the nonprofit Chess in Slums Africa to share his love for chess with his family’s homeland. The organization’s goal is to teach children across the continent the strategic game and raise $1 million for its cause.
Onakoya and fellow Brooklyn resident Shawn Martinez took center stage in Times Square for the marathon, which lasted four days from April 16 to April 21. Originally planning to stop at 58 hours, they decided to push further.
While the official recognition of the world record is pending, Onakoya received praise from Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of Nigeria.
President Tinubu tweeted, “I congratulate Tunde Onakoya @Tunde_OD on setting a new world chess record and showcasing Nigeria’s resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity on the global stage.”
Following his achievement, Onakoya expressed gratitude for the support received and promised a detailed post later.
Reflecting on chess, Onakoya wrote, “The beauty of chess lies in its ability to connect us as a universal language regardless of our background.”
