Inspired
64 Hours, Guinness World Record! Tunde Onakoya & Shawn Martinez Take Chess History to New Heights
Tunde Onakoya has set a new benchmark in the world of chess, breaking the 64-hour record and receiving his official Guinness World Record plaque. alongside Shawn Martinez.
Published
19 hours ago
on
April 20, 2025
There’s some exciting news live from Times Square in New York City. Tunde Onakoya has officially been certified by Guinness World Records for setting a new record in the longest chess marathon, clocking in a total of 64 hours of nonstop play. He’s now surpassed the previous 61-hour record held by two Norwegian players.
“For all the dreamers! We’ve officially BROKEN THE RECORD,” Tunde shared with joy. Alongside his playing partner, US National Master Shawn Martinez, Tunde officially set the new chess marathon record of 64 hours. Although his original goal was to reach 70 hours, he decided to stop at 64 hours, explaining that it felt like a fitting moment: “And yes (for the people who caught it),we stopped at 64 hours because it’s the total number of squares on the chess board. It felt like the right thing (poetic) to do.”
With this new 64-hour milestone, Tunde hasn’t just set a new record; he’s also passed his own personal best of 60 hours, which he set in 2024. But here’s the part that makes your heart pause: this isn’t just about breaking records or merely a feat of endurance. Tunde is playing to raise $1 million to build a free school for homeless children in Nigeria.
We did the impossible and gave the world something new to believe in.
Official record holders of the Longest Chess Marathon for 64 hours.
We did it❤️🇳🇬🇵🇷 pic.twitter.com/ocIuBtg9rB
— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD) April 20, 2025
Officiallly amazing @GWR . Congrats on our shared achievement Shawn Martinez! pic.twitter.com/3chNRQhe35
— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD) April 20, 2025
