Nigeria's Tunde Onakoya is attempting to play chess for 58 hours without suffering a single defeat beginning from 17 April to conclude on April 19, at New York City's Times Square.
Onakoya made the announcement via his Instagram account, stating that he is pursuing the feat for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.
The current Guinness World Record stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds and was set by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad of Norway on November 11, 2018.
"On the 17th of April 2024, I will attempt to break the Guiness World record for the longest Chess marathon in the heart of Times Square New York City for 58 hours without losing a game,
Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education," he wrote on Instagram.
Onakoya has been using chess as a means to provide opportunities for children living in marginalized areas, commonly known as slums, within the country and is well-known for this noble work.
He said during an interview that he knew the pain of hunger, of not having access, and that is the real tragedy of poverty. He stressed it is not just about not having money but access without which you rae completely removed from systems, education, the rule of law, and everything.
His actions according to him stems from empathy and compassion, which fuels his passionate commitment to keep going, even when it gets tough.
"I aim to be the support I wished I had when I was younger, for someone else," he said.
The Chess in Slums pioneer has therefore appealed to Nigerians residing in New York to come out and offer their enthusiastic support to help him achieve the new world record.
#tundechessmarathon #chessmarathonforchange
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