Nigeria’s Tunde Onakoya Breaks Guinness Chess Marathon Record

Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records for completing the longest chess marathon in history.

Onakoya achieved the remarkable feat alongside American chess player Shawn Martinez, playing continuously for 64 hours in New York City’s Times Square. The marathon took place from April 17 to April 20, 2025, and drew global attention for its powerful message of resilience and social impact.

The duo surpassed the previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, originally set in 2018.

Longest chess marathon ♟️⏱️ 64 hours. Congratulations to @Tunde_OD & @CoachShawnMar who attempted the record in Times Square, NYC for @thegiftofchess @chessinslums

“Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education, my dream is to… pic.twitter.com/IPo5UrYvUU

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) April 21, 2025

Announcing the milestone on the social media platform X, Onakoya wrote:
“For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record!
Every move, every hour, a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance… 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, known for using chess as a tool to empower underprivileged children across Africa, said the feat is a call to action for those who believe in something bigger than themselves.

Hearty congratulations to @Tunde_OD for achieving a remarkable milestone by setting a Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.

This is not just a personal achievement, but a proud moment for all of us. Tunde’s perseverance and commitment to the game truly inspires… pic.twitter.com/HNcAobBqr6

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) April 21, 2025

♟️ 64 HOURS OF CHESS! GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

The longest chess marathon was achieved by Tunde Onakoya @Tunde_OD and Shawn Martinez @CoachShawnMar in Times Square, New York, USA, from April 17 to 20, 2025.

But this was far more than a Guinness World Record.

“It’s a… pic.twitter.com/ehQZwU20SI

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 21, 2025

64 hours of brilliance, resilience, and purpose!

Congratulations to the incredible Tunde Onakoya for officially breaking the Guinness World Record for the Longest Chess Marathon! ⁦@Tunde_OD⁩ pic.twitter.com/TSniyfQbsx

— abikedabiri (@abikedabiri) April 22, 2025

The event continues to draw attention globally, combining the spirit of resilience with a heartfelt commitment to education and social impact.

In April 2024, he completed a 60-hour marathon alongside Martinez, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours set in 2018.

However, the achievement was short-lived, as a pair of Norwegian players set a new record of 61 hours just two months later.