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 comedian and actor AY, whose real name is Richard Ayodeji Makun, has spoken out about staying relevant in the entertainment scene, even as he grows older. In a recent Instagram post, he addressed the common belief that fame fades with age. But for AY, that’s not the case.
He made it clear that he’s still very much in the spotlight, enjoying recognition and influence in the industry. AY credits his long-lasting success to grace, saying his journey is far from over.
The award-winning entertainer added that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon and remains committed to making people laugh and inspiring fans across all ages. In his words, “They said the spotlight dims with age, I guess mine forgot the memo. Call it grace.”
It’s a wrap for the Summer of Love as Love Island USA comes to an end. With all the drama and a massive audience the show brought in, it can be marked as a successful season of villa mates finding love.
Love Island USA Season 7 winners were Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, who were heavily celebrated. Many viewers expressed their support for Amaya’s journey, having witnessed how badly she was treated despite the kind heart she showed. A lot of people could relate to her, and she won their votes and hearts by simply being her emotional, genuine self.
It can also be noted that she was voted America’s Favorite Islander in the villa. With that recognition, Amaya has gained attention from several brands. Even Google created a special celebration feature when you search her name.
Popular Nigerian Entrepreneur, Chioma Goodhair, reveals her reason for not being married.
The entrepreneur revealed that it was her choice not to get married and not by the lack of it. She then takes to social media to address the fact that som fans pressure her to get married or question her singleness.
“Don’t put pressure on me, please. What is ‘too late’? Lol. With all the technology in the world? Stop it! We are not in 1885 anymore. And I promise you. the fact that I’m not married right now is not by circumstance, it’s by CHOICE. I’m not going to settle just because everyone’s walking down the aisle and some are getting divorced six months later. Please. God’s timing is everything. I’ll do it right.”
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