The Nigerian chessman who loved the slums has finally etched his name in history’s perfect piece. Tunde Onakoya rode on the backs of a rough diamond to becoming a song on the world’s tender lips.
The 29 year chessmaster says:
“Great things can start from a small place”
Engineering Success Through Chess
A Nigerian chess champion recently made headlines by breaking the world record for the longest chess marathon, playing unbeaten for over 58 hours in New York City’s Times Square.
29 year-old Tunde Onakoya, initiated this marathon session with the aim of raising funds for underprivileged children’s education across Africa. Initially targeting a 58-hour gameplay, Onakoya extended his effort until he reached the milestone of 60 hours around 12:40 am on Saturday, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds set in 2018.
He was short of words after achieving the feat:
“I can’t process a lot of the emotions I feel right now. I don’t have the right words for them. But I know we did something truly remarkable,”
However, reflecting on his achievement, Onakoya expressed a mix of emotions, unable to fully articulate his feelings but acknowledging the significance of their accomplishment. Throughout the marathon, Onakoya faced off against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, adhering to Guinness World Records guidelines mandating continuous gameplay by two players.
For every hour of play, Onakoya and his opponent were allotted only five minutes of break time.
The Plaudits Pour In
His recording breaking achievement has garnered widespread praise and support from Nigerians, including notable figures like President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and musicians Davido and Adekunle Gold.
President Tinubu commended Onakoya for his exceptional achievement and the noble cause driving his endeavor, emphasizing the importance of raising funds for African children’s education and opportunities through chess.
Chess Fills A Void
Onakoya’s journey to chess excellence began as a means of escaping the poverty he experienced growing up in Lagos’s challenging environment.
Through his non-profit organization, Chess in Slums Africa, he teaches the game to children from disadvantaged communities, intertwining chess education with academic support.
Onakoya serves as a board member for The Gift of Chess, a US-based non-profit committed to leveraging chess to transform lives, aiming to distribute one million chess sets to underserved communities by 2030.
Follow Tunde Onakoya’s Journey Here.
