Entertainment
Tunde Onakoya Breaks Chess Marathon World Record to Support Homeless Kids
Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon. He surpassed the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds. This was done with the help of his chess partner, Shawn Martinez. They crossed the 62-hour mark early Sunday morning, April 20, at Times Square, New York City. Now, they are aiming for a 70-hour goal, which is set to finish later today.
“We’ve officially broken the record!” Onakoya celebrated on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, sharing the achievement with his followers. The marathon, which began on Wednesday, April 17, is not just a test of endurance. Onakoya sees it as a powerful call to action, aiming to raise awareness and funds for a free school for homeless children in Nigeria.
“If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do?” he challenged his audience. “Every move, every hour, is a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance.”
Pictures from the event show Onakoya and Martinez deeply focused under the bright lights of Times Square.
In a touching moment, Martinez’s wife brought their newborn twins to the venue, adding a personal and emotional touch to the marathon. Children also joined for a few hours.
Also, this marks Onakoya’s second attempt at breaking the record. In April 2024, he and Martinez completed a 60-hour marathon. This surpassed the previous 2018 record held by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad. However, another Norwegian duo extended the record to 61 hours in June 2024, briefly taking back the title.
Now, a year later, Onakoya and Martinez are not only reclaiming the record but also hoping to make a long-term impact on vulnerable children across Africa. Proceeds from the event, including sales of exclusive chess sets, will support Onakoya’s vision of building “the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria.”
“No child should have to sacrifice their childhood for survival,” Onakoya emphasized. “No dream should be buried under the weight of poverty.”
Nigerian rapper Zlatan Ibile has announced his upcoming wedding celebration with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai.
The couple revealed that their wedding celebration will take place on October 24, 2026, in a pre-wedding video shared on social media.
The video featured a voice-over from one of their children, who spoke about the love and support their parents have shown each other while reflecting on their family life.
Zlatan and Davita have been together for several years and share children. Their wedding announcement has since attracted congratulatory messages from fans, who are looking forward to the couple’s celebration.
The announcement comes after reports of a private civil ceremony earlier in 2026, with the upcoming event expected to mark another celebration of their union.
It’s a new month, which means K-drama fans have more series to add to their watchlists.
October 2026 brings a range of new Korean dramas, from romance and comedy to medical stories, mysteries and thrillers. Some have already premiered, while others are scheduled to arrive later in the month.
Here are 11 K-dramas to look out for this October:
- Your Personal Taxi
- Between Steps
- Take Charge of My Heart
- Doctor X
- 100 Days of Deception
- Make Me Tingle
- Love in Disguise
- Final Table
- Oh! My Guard
- Dead-End Job
- The Perfect Lie
Several global music stars began their careers while they were still teenagers, growing up in the spotlight as their songs gained popularity around the world.
Justin Bieber is one of the best-known examples. He rose to fame as a teenager after his music videos attracted attention online. Selena Gomez also became a household name at a young age through acting and music.
Here are 10 singers who achieved fame early in their lives:
- Justin Bieber – Rose to international fame as a teenager with songs such as “Baby.”
- Selena Gomez – Gained early recognition through acting before building a successful music career.
- Miley Cyrus – Became famous as a teenager through Hannah Montana and later released hit songs.
- Taylor Swift – Began her music career as a teenager and became known for country songs such as “Our Song.”
- Billie Eilish – Gained international attention as a teenager with “Ocean Eyes.”
- Rihanna – Rose to fame as a teenager with her debut single “Pon de Replay.”
- Ariana Grande – First became known through acting before establishing herself as a pop singer.
- Britney Spears – Became a global pop sensation as a teenager with “…Baby One More Time.”
- Shawn Mendes – Gained attention as a teenager by sharing song covers online before releasing his own music.
- Olivia Rodrigo – Built an acting career while young before achieving major music success with “drivers license.”
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