In April 2024, people walking through Times Square in New York City witnessed a very interesting event.
It attracted the attention of not only passers-by, but also all representatives of the chess world.
The point is that a real battle unfolded here: the Nigerian and US chess champions, Tunde Onakoya and Sean Martinez, played for 60 hours straight to set a new world record for the longest chess game.
During this marathon, the players managed to play 197 games.
Remarkably, Nigerian chess player Onakoya won each of them.
This achievement not only highlights his skill, but also demonstrates the fortitude and perseverance of both participants.
An integral part of this event was the support of the spectators.
The square was filled not only with numerous chess fans, but also with representatives of the Nigerian diaspora who came to support the players.
They watched the game and also actively participated in the celebration, singing songs, dancing, and treating spectators and chess players to traditional dishes.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also expressed his support for the participants, following their progress online.
Onakoya's goal for this record was to raise $1 million for his charity, which promotes chess among impoverished children in Africa.
Growing up in the floating slums of Mokoko, chess helped him escape poverty. Onakoya hopes his initiative will inspire young people and give them the opportunity to develop their talents.
As a reminder, the previous record for the longest chess game belonged to Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Verkingstad, who played for 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds in 2018.
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