In an astounding demonstration of resilience and dedication, Nigerian chess grasp and advocate of kid training, Tunde Onakoya, is on a
quest to set a brand new world file for the longest chess marathon.
This outstanding effort is happening within the coronary heart of New York Metropolis’s Instances Sq., the place Onakoya, 29, has teamed up with American chess participant Shawn Martinez.
The marathon, which started earlier this week, has already surpassed 50 hours of steady play, and is about to be concluded on Friday April 19, 2024.
Regardless of affected by extreme abdomen ache and intense vomiting throughout the occasion, Onakoya’s willpower has not wavered. Confronted with the choice to surrender, he emphatically selected to persevere, stating, “I’ll play on for the goals of hundreds of thousands of youngsters.”
This declaration has rallied a wave of assist from each on-line well-wishers and dwell spectators, who’ve gathered to witness his endeavour.
The objective of this strenuous enterprise is to boost $1million to foster instructional alternatives for youngsters throughout Africa. All through the occasion, Onakoya has sustained himself on a weight loss plan of water and jollof rice, with solely five-minute breaks every hour — valuable moments typically spent participating with supporters and collaborating of their celebratory dances.
In simply the primary 20 hours, supporters from across the globe, together with Nigerians, international leaders, celebrities, and informal passersby, contributed over $22,000 in direction of the trigger.
Onakoya and Martinez aimed to shatter the earlier file of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, set in 2018 by Norwegian gamers Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, by enjoying nonstop for 58 hours in accordance with Guinness World Report (GWR) tips.
Past the marathon, Onakoya is the founding father of Chess in Slums Africa, launched in 2018 with a mission to assist the training of a minimum of a million kids residing in impoverished circumstances throughout the continent.
This initiative is particularly vital contemplating the greater than 10 million kids presently out of college in Nigeria alone.
Because the marathon nears its closing moments, the assist and music from the group continued to gas Onakoya’s resolve. His inspiring message resonates clearly: “It’s attainable to do nice issues from a small place.”