Chess master Tunde Onakoya has launched a fresh attempt to break the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon.
The Chess in Slums Africa founder began the challenge on Thursday at Times Square in New York City, aiming to play nonstop chess for 70 hours without losing a single game.
Onakoya is allowed only five-minute breaks every hour throughout the marathon.
In a recent post on X, the chess champion shared a video of the countdown leading to the attempt, with fans gathered around him, cheering in support.
According to Onakoya, the motivation behind the record attempt is to raise funds for building free schools for homeless children in Nigeria.
His previous attempt took place in April 2024, when he played a 60-hour chess marathon alongside US chess master Shawn Martinez, surpassing the 56-hour record set in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad.
Despite the feat, Guinness World Records did not officially recognise the effort.
Instead, it announced two other Norwegians—Odin Blikra Vea and Askild Bryn—as the new record holders after playing chess for 61 hours, 3 minutes and 34 seconds.
Last week, Onakoya confirmed he and Martinez would attempt a new 70-hour run to secure the record.
He also revealed that five children from Chess in Slums Africa would join him in New York.
“They have shown all of us that it is possible to do great things from a small place,” he said.
