Nigerian chess champion and social entrepreneur, Tunde Onakoya, is set to challenge a new Guinness World Record with a 70-hour chess marathon in New York’s Times Square — and this time, he is not alone.
In a video posted on Instagram on Tuesday, the 30-year-old founder of Chess in Slums Africa, announced his ambitious goal, alongside five children from disadvantaged communities in Nigeria.
“I’m back here in this very moment that started last year in Times Square,” he said. “We played chess for 60 hours. We pushed the limits of the human mind and gave the world something new to believe in.”
The 30-year-old, who gained global recognition in April 2024 for completing a 60-hour chess marathon with U.S. chess master Shawn Martinez, revealed that his upcoming attempt is not just about records.
READ ALSO: ‘We Have Done It’: Chess Master Tunde Onakoya Breaks World Record, Hits 60 Hours
“Your support helped us build an innovation hub in Lagos, Nigeria, and support the education of thousands of children across Africa. Now I’m back—but this time, I’m not alone. I’m here with five incredible children from Nigeria, who have come from the slums—against all odds—to become champions here.”
“From winning tournaments in Athens, Georgia, to speaking at the United Nations, and winning the gold medal at the United Nations Chess Championship, they (five slum children) have truly shown us that talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t.”
The new attempt is scheduled to run from April 17 to 20, 2025. Onakoya and Martinez aim to surpass the current chess marathon record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by two Norwegian players in June 2024.
“So now we’re in the endgame. There’s a new world record set by two Norwegian players. And on the 17th of April, 2025, I, along with U.S. National Master Shawn Martinez will be breaking that record—and setting a new one for 70 hours.”
The five children, he said, will also participate in the event for a few hours each day. He extended an open invitation to local players in New York.
“This is an open call to every chess player in New York City: if you think you’re good enough to challenge them, we invite you to come play them.”
For Million Dreams
More than a personal feat, Onakoya explained the deeper mission behind the challenge.
“We’re not just doing this for ourselves—we’re doing it for a million dreams. We want to build the biggest preschool in Africa for homeless children.
“The hardest part isn’t staying awake for three days—because a million dreams will do that. But now, more than ever, we need everyone’s support. If you’re in New York, show up at Times Square. Come support us. Help us inspire the world and show the world that it is indeed possible to do great things from a small place.”
In a tweet posted earlier on Saturday via social platform X (formerly Twitter), Onakoya reinforced his commitment.
“My dream is to inspire the world and raise support to build the biggest free school for homeless children in Nigeria,” he wrote.
The non-profit chess organisation The Gift of Chess, a partner in this initiative, also confirmed the challenge.
“Starting April 17th, Tunde_OD & CoachShawnMar will attempt 70 hours of non-stop chess in the heart of Times Square, NYC,” the organisation said in a post. “They are aiming to break their previous record of 60 hours and surpass the current GWR record set by two Norwegians.”
Previous Attempt
In April 2024, Onakoya and Martinez had broken the previous Guinness World Record of 56 hours — held since 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad — after completing a 60-hour game marathon. However, their triumph was short-lived, with the new 61-hour benchmark being established just two months later.
During his record-setting performance in 2024, New York’s Nigerian community turned out in force, offering traditional meals like jollof rice and energetic music to sustain him. Nigerian superstar Davido also publicly supported him and presented him with a 30BG chain.
Top political figures have praised his efforts. Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, lauded him, stating that his feat was a symbol of “excellence and resilience that distinguishes Nigerians both locally and internationally.” Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also highlighted that the attempt was “a strong testimony to how greatness can come from anywhere.”
That initial effort, which doubled as a $1 million fundraising campaign, helped elevate Onakoya’s Chess in Slums Africa initiative — a movement he says has provided education and lifelong scholarships to over 200 children across Nigeria. The funds raised were also used to distribute one million chess sets to impoverished communities, in partnership with The Gift of Chess.
In a January 2024 interview with Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Onakoya said growing up in poverty taught him empathy because the real pain wasn’t just lacking money, but being cut off from things like education and justice. He said this experience drives his passion to help others, adding that he wants to be the kind of person he needed when he was younger.
Onakoya, a self-taught chess master, learnt the game in a barber’s shop. Raised in modest circumstances by a mother who worked as a cleaner to support his education, he went on to study computer science at Yaba College of Technology.
Throughout his journey, the Lagos-born chess champion has received national and international acclaim. Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun appointed him in April 2024 as the state’s sports ambassador and likened his cause to that of millions of youths in Nigeria who are struggling to make something out of their lives.
