In New York

Continuous chess: Nigerian sets world record

Tunde Onakoya(Bild: AP)

Nigerian Tunde Onakoya has broken the world record for the longest chess marathon in New York. The 29-year-old played chess in Times Square for more than 58 hours and remained unbeaten. Onakoya used the event to raise money for disadvantaged children in Africa.

Onakoya made his first move on Wednesday and sat at the chessboard until Friday evening. "I can't process a lot of the emotions I'm feeling right now," he said as he broke the 58-hour mark. "But I know we accomplished something truly remarkable."

On Friday night he was about to give up, Onakoya said. "But Nigerians traveled from all over the world. And they were with me all night," he said. "We sang and danced together and I couldn't just leave them hanging."

In 2018, Onakoya launched the "Chess in Slums" project in the city of Ikorodu, near the Nigerian metropolis of Lagos, which is aimed at children and young people in the region who are often unable to go to school and have to work to support their families.

Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated Onakoya on his record and praised his "talent" and "boldness". Onakoya hopes to raise one million dollars for disadvantaged children in Africa through his world record.