Tunde Onakoya teamed up with Puerto Rican chess player, Shawn Martinez, to surpass the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
Nigerian chess master and social impact advocate, Tunde Onakoya, has officially been certified by Guinness World Records (GWR) for setting a new global record in the longest chess marathon category. The historic feat lasted 64 hours and took place in New York City’s Times Square from April 17 to April 20, 2025.
Tunde Onakoya, founder of the non-profit initiative, Chess in Slums Africa, teamed up with Puerto Rican chess player Shawn Martinez to surpass the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds. That benchmark had been held by Norwegian duo Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad since 2024.
Originally aiming for a 70-hour session, Onakoya and Martinez concluded their record-breaking run at the 64-hour mark, playing non-stop through the challenges of exhaustion and weather.
Celebrating the achievement on social media, Onakoya wrote, “We did the impossible and gave the world something new to believe in. Official record holders of the Longest Chess Marathon for 64 hours. We did it”.
According to the official GWR certificate: “The longest chess marathon was achieved by Tunde Onakoya (Nigeria) and Shawn Martinez (Puerto Rico) in Times Square, New York, USA, from 17 to 20 April 2025”.
This milestone marks a significant follow-up to Tunde Onakoya’s 60-hour chess marathon in April 2024. While that attempt fell short of official recognition, it laid the groundwork for this year’s globally acclaimed triumph. Beyond the board, Chess in Slums Africa continues to use the game as a transformative tool for children in underserved communities, introducing literacy, confidence, and opportunity through strategic thinking.
Tunde Onakoya, who often shares his journey from the slums of Lagos to global platforms, embodies the vision he champions. His Guinness World Record is a symbolic moment for a generation of young Africans, showing that it is possible to do great things from a small place.