AGS NEWS – Nigerian chess grandmaster Tunde Onakoya and his counterpart from the United States, Shawn Martinez, have embarked on a challenging quest to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.

The epic showdown, currently surpassing the 23-hour mark, is unfolding at New York City’s famed Times Square and is set to conclude on April 19.

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The initiative, spearheaded by Onakoya’s foundation, Chess in Slums Africa, seeks to promote chess education among underprivileged children.

In a statement released on Thursday, the foundation outlined the stringent rules set by Guinness World Records for the record attempt.

The record bid entails a grueling duel between Onakoya and Martinez, both esteemed National Masters in chess, who will engage in continuous play for an extended duration.

The marathon match, designed to last a staggering 58 hours, mandates that the same players face off against each other throughout the entire period.

While Onakoya aims to secure victory against Martinez, his ultimate objective transcends the game itself.

The marathon endeavor aims to raise $1,000,000 to support educational initiatives benefiting children across Africa.

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As the intense battle unfolds, Onakoya’s manager, known as Taiwo, has disclosed that the grandmaster is simultaneously competing in two sets of games, with the second set involving random players.

However, only the match against Martinez is deemed valid for the record attempt, underscoring the significance of their ongoing clash.

The current record for the longest chess marathon stands at 56 hours, 09 minutes, and 37 seconds, achieved by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad from Norway in November 2018.