The name Tunde Onakoyais now gaining more appreciable renown, especially as he aims to etch his chess wizardry into Guinness World Records in an ongoing challenge at Times Square, New York City.
Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, had organized a number of interventions for children across slums in Lagos state, including Majidun (Ikorodu), Makoko and recently, Oshodi.
Here are some major facts about Onakoya’s far-reaching quest:
Duration
The chess guru had announced on X that he plans to undertake a 58-hour chess marathon without losing a single game.
The aim is to surpass the current Guinness World Record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, set by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, both Norwegians, on November 11, 2018.
Mission
Inspired by a worthy drive to empower underprivileged children, Tunde is driven to break the Guinness World Records for the longest chess marathon. Explaining this, he wrote on X:
“Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.” His life story and dedication to transforming the lives of thousands of children provide insight into his decision.
Tunde’s deep passion for chess led to the inception of Chess in the Slum in 2017. This initiative aimed to engage children in the game, helping them unlock their potential while acquiring basic literacy skills.
Location
This grand event will take place in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. Onakoya also revealed that the attempt will commence at 10 am and will be live-streamed on YouTube.
Images and clips of Tunde in New York are already circulating, showing him playing chess and winning at various events, chess clubs, and even on the bustling streets of Times Square as he prepares for the big day, which starts today.