Tunde Onakoya, the visionary behind the Chess-in-Slums initiative, returned to a hero’s welcome after accomplishing a remarkable feat by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest-ever chess marathon.
Clocking an impressive 60 hours of continuous play, Onakoya’s achievement has garnered widespread admiration.
Upon his arrival in Nigeria on Wednesday, Onakoya was greeted with an outpouring of joy and excitement. The airport reception was filled with jubilant singing and dancing, reflecting the nation’s pride in his remarkable accomplishment.
By surpassing the previous record set by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who played for 56 hours and 9 minutes in 2018, Onakoya has etched his name in chess history.
In addition to his extraordinary achievement, Onakoya’s motive behind the marathon was to generate funds and raise awareness for providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children throughout Africa. His noble cause has touched the hearts of many, inspiring hope and highlighting the transformative power of chess as a tool for social change.
The chess community and supporters of the Chess-in-Slums initiative eagerly await the next chapter in Onakoya’s journey, as he continues to make a difference in the lives of countless children, one move at a time.
