Chess in Slums founder Tunde Onakoya announces World Record attempt to combat illiteracy in AFRICA
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Tunde Onakoya set to attempt breaking the Guiness World Record for the longest chess marathon without losing || Image credit: Tunde Onakoya (X)

Chess in Slums founder Tunde Onakoya announces World Record attempt to combat illiteracy in AFRICA

Faruq Ibrahim 19:47 - 12.04.2024

Chess master and Philanthropist Tunde Onakoya will attempt to break the world record for the longest chess marathon without losing a game.

A Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, has announced his decision to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon without losing a game, in an attempt to generate awareness and provide hope for the educationally disadvantaged in Africa.

Tunde is famous for his philanthropy, particularly, using chess to provide opportunities for young people in the ‘slums’ of the country. 

He does this through an initiative called ‘Chess in Slums’, a programme responsible for emancipating young boys who dwell or loiter under or around bridges in Lagos and are prone to a life of crime and violence at the start and has now expanded to a continent-wide initiative aimed at creating enabling environments for disadvantaged youths.

Tunde Onakoya is reaching lives with Chess in Slums || Image credit: X/ @Tunde Onakoya
Tunde Onakoya is reaching lives with Chess in Slums || Image credit: X/ @Tunde Onakoya

Tunde set to reach for greatness 

Today, the 30-year-old announced that he will be attempting to break a world record: the longest chess marathon without losing a game.

The record stands at 58 hours, and Tunde will attempt to break it at Time Square New York on April 17, 2024. He announced that he would clock in at 10 A.M on that day and that the event would be available for all to stream on YouTube. 

“On the 17th of April 2024, I will attempt to break the Guinness World record for the longest chess marathon in the heart of Times Square, New York City for 58 hours without losing a game,” he announced on X.

“Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.”

He went on to seek the support of Nigerians in New York to come out with teeming backing, as he aims to set a new world record.

Tunde is well capable of holding his own against the best players in the world. He is currently ranked #25863 in the world by the International Chess Federation and is the 24th-best player in Nigeria.

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