Saturday, July 11, 2026

Chess master Tunde Onakoya breaks world record for longest chess marathon

The new feat has surpassed the earlier 61-hour, 3-minute, and 34-second record set by Norwegian duo Askild Bryn and Odin Blikra Vea.

• April 20, 2025
Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya
Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya[Credit: Instagram]

Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has re-established himself, alongside his American chess partner, Shawn Martinez, as players of the longest chess marathon in the world.

Onakoya and Martinez, on Sunday, at Times Square, New York, made a feat of the 64-hour round-the-clock chess game. 

The marathon began on Thursday, April 17, with a target to raise $1,000,000 through his initiative, Chess in Slums Africa, which will be used to build the largest tuition-free school for vulnerable children in Nigeria.

The new feat has surpassed the earlier 61-hour, 3-minute, and 34-second record set by Norwegian duo Askild Bryn and Odin Blikra Vea.

Onakoya, in a post via his X handle, @Tunde_OD, ascribed the victory to all dreamers who aspire to change the world.

“If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do? Sometimes the world won’t hand you 70 hours on a golden platter. Sometimes, you have to carve it out of your own breath, your own becoming. Not for applause. Not for records. But for the quiet dreamers who need to see someone leap — so they know it’s possible to fly,” Onakoya tweeted.

“This is a dream I’ve carried for years. Because no child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival. No dream should be buried beneath the weight of poverty,” he added.

As of the time of this report, the Guinness World Records, a global authority on record-breaking achievements, has yet to recognise the feat.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Police

NationWide

Focus on criminals, stop targeting journalists, CPJ tells Nigerian security agencies

She also pointed out harsh bail requirements imposed on journalists, describing Mr Ugagbe’s bail conditions as “utterly punitive.”

Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa

Education

Tinubu upgrades Nasarawa poly to university

Mr Onanuga said the approval followed a proposal by Senator Ahmed Aliyu, who represents the Nasarawa West Senatorial District.

Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA)

Lagos

Lagos govt signs agreement to automate vehicle registration

Mr Osiyemi said the initiative would simplify and speed up vehicle registration by eliminating cumbersome processes.

Collapsed building

States

Three rescued, one body recovered as building collapses in Kano

The PRO attributed the collapse to the use of poor and substandard building materials.

Justice Lateef Fagbemi

NationWide

FG calls for stronger African collaboration to combat illicit wealth, transnational corruption

Mr Fagbemi added that the recovery and transparent management of proceeds of crime remained a key pillar of the country’s anti-corruption policy.

Nigerians alighting from Air Peace plane from South Africa.

Heading 2

FG reiterates commitment to ensuring safe return of Nigerians from South Africa

“The last evacuation flight, which is expected to bring home approximately 300 of our nationals, is expected to arrive in Nigeria next week,” Mr Ebienfa said.