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.”