The world often celebrates the spectacular, the feats that leave us awestruck. Nigerian chess prodigy Tunde Onakoya understands this. He knows that blending into the background won’t earn him the recognition he deserves. That’s why he’s taking an extraordinary path: a shot at the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records.
As one of the Nigerian shining stars, Onakoya, the chess wizard, has vowed to etch Nigeria on the world map with his chess wizardry.
The 29-year-old chess champion, who beat 10 chess players simultaneously in the DLD conference in Germany early this year, is gunning for the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon at Times Square, New York City, for 58 hours on the top of the pile without conceding a defeat.
The event will kick off from 10am on April 17 to 8pm on April 19.
Announcing his attempt to break the record on April 12, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa wrote on his X handle that he is “doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.” He acknowledged their support, saying, “You guys have been rock solid for me through the years.”
Born on October 6, 1996, Onakoya grew up in the slum of Ikorodu, Lagos State, where he learned the game of chess at a barber’s shop in the neighborhood. From representing his street and schools at numerous chess competitions, he rose from the backwater of the slum to the enviable rank 13 in the country.
He holds a Diploma in Computer Science from Yaba College of Technology. While studying at the citadel of learning, he participated in the Nigeria Polytechnic Games and RCCG Chess Championship and won gold medals. Thanks to his mother, who worked as a cleaner in his secondary school in exchange for his tuition.
Despite his stratospheric rise to chess stardom, Tunde Onakoya has never forgotten his people in the slum, particularly the children in Majidun (Ikorodu), Makoko, and Oshodi. He organizes numerous interventions for them to learn the ropes of the chess game while learning to read, write, and acquire basic literacy skills.
The Nigerian chess champion is a board member of the New York City-based non-profit The Gift of Chess.
Guinness World Record Longest Chess Marathon
The longest chess marathon is 56 hr 09 min 37 sec. The record was set in Haugesund on November 11, 2018, by two Norwegians and chess masters, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad. Guinness World Record on its website restricts chess players below 16 years from applying to break the record.
Guinness World Record Holders In Nigeria
In 2022, The NATION reported that 41 Nigerians hold the Guinness World Record. These young and old Nigerians, of course, didn’t achieve the feats on a silver platter; they defied the odds by stamping their feet on the threshold of history.
For instance, Tuedon Morgan (female) achieved the fastest time to run a half marathon on each continent and the North Pole, setting the record at 62 days 12 hr 58 min 49 sec, from 8 February 2015 to 12 April 2015, late human rights activist, Fela Kuti achieved 46 albums as a solo musician for a solo career of 23 years. He recorded his first solo album in 1969, and the last in 1992, and Stephen Keshi was the youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach.
