Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, surpassing the previous record by a remarkable margin.
Initially aiming for a 58-hour game, Onakoya, along with his opponent Shawn Martinez, exceeded all expectations by playing nonstop for an astonishing 60 hours.
This extraordinary achievement shattered the previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, held by Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Ferkingstad.
Despite experiencing extreme physical discomfort, including intense vomiting and stomach pain, Onakoya refused to quit.
Even as he was “curled over in pain,” according to the charity organization Gift of Chess, Onakoya was determined to continue, stating, “I will play on for the dreams of millions of children.”
In a tweet from 2022, the 29-year-old chess master expressed his desire to be remembered “as the guy who thought it was possible to do great things from a small place.”
Through his record-breaking feat, Onakoya is paving the way for children and aspiring chess players everywhere to pursue their dreams within the game.
The official duration of Onakoya and Martinez’s chess game is pending verification and announcement by Guinness World Records.
