Renowned chess master Tunde Onakoya has embarked on a remarkable journey, surpassing the 16-hour mark undefeated, in his quest to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, currently standing at an impressive 58 hours.
Commencing on Wednesday, April 17, the event is slated to conclude on April 19, captivating the attention of chess enthusiasts and spectators alike.
Notable among his achievements is his victory over New York’s own National Chess Master, Shawn Martinez, in a highly anticipated match.
Social media platforms buzz with updates on Onakoya’s progress, with a recent post on his handle celebrating his latest triumph against Martinez: “Tunde Onakoya defeats a formidable opponent, National Chess Master Shawn Martinez, hailing from New York!”
Offering insights into the challenge, Onakoya’s manager, known as Taiwo with the handle “OgaBoxx,” shed light on the rigorous nature of the marathon. Taiwo revealed that after 15 hours of continuous play against 12 opponents, Onakoya adhered to the stipulated rule of taking a cumulative break of 30 minutes, in line with a five-minute rest for every hour of play. He urged supporters to continue their backing, streaming, and donations, emphasizing that their energy fuels Onakoya’s determination.
As the marathon unfolds, Onakoya’s extraordinary feat garners widespread support, particularly from Nigerians at home and abroad. Messages of encouragement pour in from various dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others.
The event also captures the attention of international diplomatic missions, with the US Mission Nigeria and UK in Nigeria extending their best wishes to Onakoya through their respective social media channels.
