At the heart of this historic achievement is a deeply personal and transformative cause: raising funds to build the largest free school for homeless children in Nigeria. Onakoya, the visionary behind Chess in Slums Africa, has long championed the use of chess as a tool for empowerment, education, and social mobility in underserved communities.
“For all the dreamers! We’ve officially broken the record!” Onakoya announced joyfully on X (formerly Twitter), marking the culmination of days spent immersed in strategic play, physical endurance, and heartfelt advocacy.
The marathon began on Wednesday, April 17, and turned a bustling New York landmark into a stage of purpose-driven gameplay. For more than two and a half days, the duo engaged in nonstop chess under the bright lights of Times Square, sustained by grit, goodwill, and the story they were telling with every move.
Even after surpassing the record, Onakoya announced his ambition to extend the marathon to 70 hours, pushing the limits of endurance in service of a dream larger than himself.
“If you had 70 hours to change the world, what would you do?” Onakoya reflected during the marathon. “Sometimes the world won’t hand you 70 hours on a golden platter. Sometimes, you have to carve it out of your own breath, your own becoming. Not for applause. Not for records. But for the quiet dreamers who need to see someone leap—so they know it’s possible to fly.”
His words struck a chord with thousands following the event worldwide, offering a window into the emotional and existential stakes of the record attempt. Every hour, every move, Onakoya said, was “a love letter to children who’ve never known the luxury of a second chance.”
This wasn’t just about chess. It was about visibility for those often unseen. To further support the cause, Onakoya introduced limited edition chess sets, with proceeds going directly toward the tuition-free school he envisions. “This is a dream I’ve carried for years,” he shared. “Because no child should ever have their childhood sacrificed for survival. No dream should be buried beneath the weight of poverty.”
Moments of humanity punctuated the intense gameplay. In one particularly touching instance, Martinez’s wife brought their newborn twins to visit, a tender reminder of the personal sacrifices woven into this public spectacle. Children from the local community were also invited to participate in the marathon, playing games of chess that symbolized the very future Onakoya hopes to shape.
This event marks Onakoya’s second concerted attempt at the chess marathon record. In April 2024, he and Martinez played for 60 hours, briefly overtaking the previous 56-hour record set by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018. But their victory was short-lived, as another Norwegian duo soon extended the record to 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds.
Now, in 2025, Onakoya’s triumphant return to the record books is more than just redemption—it’s a rallying cry. His relentless pursuit of 70 hours isn't about fame or accolades; it's about making education accessible for Nigeria’s most vulnerable children.
As Onakoya pushes toward the final stretch, one thing is clear: this is more than a chess match. It’s a bold move on the board of global conscience—one that challenges us all to imagine what we’d do if given 70 hours to make a difference.
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| Tunde Onakoya and Shawn Martinez at Times Square Credit: X| Tunde_OD |
