Tunde Onakoya

Now breaking records on at Time Square New York City Tunde’s background was all in the Slum of Ikorodu with poverty shaping him to become who he is today. Tunde Onakoya was born on October 6, 1994, in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. He grew up in the slums of Ikorodu, facing significant economic hardship. His family could not afford his secondary school fees, so his mother worked as a cleaner at a school in exchange for his education. During his formative years, Tunde did not speak English until he entered secondary school, and he often faced ridicule from teachers for his poor command of the language as he was labeled “Olodo” (dullard) by teachers. After completing basic education, he was out of school for two years due to financial constraints, a period that shaped his resilience and determination.

Tunde’s journey began in the slums, where he learned chess by observing games at a local barber’s shop. His formal chess education was nurtured at Yintab Private Academy, where he joined the chess club and developed his skills under the mentorship of Mr. Clement Okoro. He later obtained a diploma in computer science from Yaba College of Technology, where he excelled as a gold medalist representing the school in the Nigeria Polytechnic Games and RCCG Chess Championship. He also won national tournaments such as the National Friends of Chess and the Chevron Chess Open.

His passion for chess and his experience with poverty inspired him to found Chess in Slums Africa in 2018—a volunteer-driven non-profit that empowers children in disadvantaged communities through chess. The initiative has trained over 200 children and secured scholarships for at least 20, including a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who went on to play chess with the Lagos State Governor.

In 2024, Tunde Onakoya underwent a complete hip-replacement surgery, a significant health challenge that could have impacted his chess career. Despite this, he made a strong comeback, demonstrating resilience and determination.

Earlier in 2024, Onakoya sets 60-hour Guinness world record for longest chess marathon and was surpassed within two months by Norwegian players, which motivated him to attempt reclaiming the record with an even longer marathon.

In April 2025, Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya set a new Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, playing continuously for 64 hours alongside Puerto Rican chess player Shawn Martinez. The marathon took place in New York City’s Times Square from April 17 to April 20, 2025. This feat surpassed the previous record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, held by Norwegian duo Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad since June 2024.

Originally aiming for a 70-hour marathon, Onakoya and Martinez concluded at 64 hours, symbolically matching the number of squares on a chessboard. The event was not just about breaking records but also aimed to inspire and raise awareness for Onakoya’s initiative, Chess in Slums Africa, which provides educational opportunities to marginalized children through chess.

Onakoya celebrated the achievement by emphasizing perseverance and the power of dreams, stating, “It is possible to do great things from a small place” and “We did the impossible and gave the world something new to believe in.” The Guinness World Records officially certified the feat, marking Onakoya and Martinez as the new record holders for the longest chess marathon.

Tunde’s story is a testament to perseverance and the transformative power of education and mentorship. He continues to impact lives by using chess as a tool for social change, aiming to train over a million African children in the coming years.