The Chess god: Tunde Onakoya Breaks Guinness World Record
The 29-year-old Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in New York’s Times Square, when he reached the 57-hour mark, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes. Norway’s Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad set the previous record in 2018 with 56 hours and 9 minutes. Onakoya, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, founded the nonprofit organization Chess in Slums Africa with the intention of utilizing chess as a method to assist underprivileged children in learning to read and write. Due of this, the 29-year-old has become an inspiration to millions of people in Africa as he works toward his goal of earning $1 million for the education of children around the continent. Having amassed hundreds of thousands of social media followers, his admirable cause has garnered international recognition as well. PHOTO CREDIT: Getty