From a Slum in Nigeria to a Guinness World Record Holder: The Story of a Chess Master

From a Slum in Nigeria to a Guinness World Record Holder: The Story of a Chess Master

Tunde Onakoya, born on 6th October 1994 in Ikorodu is a Nigerian chess enthusiast who serves as a coach and is the founder of Chess in Slums Africa. He’s orchestrated various programs aimed at aiding children in Lagos state slums, such as Majidun (Ikorodu), Makoko, and most recently, Oshodi. These initiatives involve two-week sessions designed to harness the kids’ potential through chess, alongside teaching them reading, writing, and essential literacy skills.

Mr. Onakoya picked up chess while frequenting a barbershop in his hometown of Ikorodu, Lagos,  at a very young age. When finances posed a challenge for his secondary education, his mother offered to work as a cleaner in exchange for his school fees. Despite these hurdles, he rose to become the 13th ranked chess player in Nigeria.

While in school, Yaba College of Technology, Tunde Onakoya became a gold medalist representing the school in Nigeria Polytechnic Games and also at the RCCG Chess Championship. He has also won the National Friends of Chess and the Chevron Chess Open.

Chess in Slums Africa

In September 2018, Chess in Slums Africa commenced as a volunteer-based nonprofit organization with the mission of empowering youth in underprivileged communities through chess.

In September 2020, Chess in Slums Africa collaborated with Chess.com to utilize chess as an educational tool in classrooms, chess clubs, and for parents.

By June 2021, Chess in Slums Africa had provided training to over 200 children, securing lifelong scholarships for 20 of them.

In May 2021, Ferdinand, a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, clinched victory in the chess tournament held in Makoko through Chess in Slums Africa. He later had the opportunity to meet and compete with Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, Nigeria.

Making an Impact, Raising Awareness 

DLD Conference

Established in 2005 as an intimate gathering among friends, DLD (Digital – Life – Design) has grown into Europe’s premier innovation conference for global visionaries. Co-chairs Steffi Czerny and Yossi Vardi have built a platform that bridges disciplines and nations, fostering connections among those seeking to drive change in the digital age. DLD takes pride in curating a diverse range of perspectives from business, politics, science, and the arts, aiming to ignite discussions that transcend boundaries and unite participants in tackling the toughest questions posed by digital transformation.

While DLD has expanded into a series of events over the years, it remains committed to maintaining the intimate atmosphere of its origins through a selective “by invitation only” process for attendees. Its flagship annual conference in Munich each January, held just before the World Economic Forum in Davos, is renowned worldwide for attracting top talent in the digital realm.

Throughout the years, DLD has hosted a distinguished array of speakers including Mark Zuckerberg, Norman Foster, Arianna Huffington, Tony Fadell, Satya Nadella, Lady Gaga, Sheryl Sandberg, Jack Dorsey, Alanis Morrisette, Ai Wei Wei, and many others. As part of Hubert Burda Media, one of Germany’s foremost publishing houses, DLD consistently draws over 200 journalists from leading media outlets like The New York Times, Bloomberg, WIRED, The Economist, Financial Times, The Guardian, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Focus, Spiegel, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, and CNBC.

At the start of the year 2024, Tunde Onakoya was one of the keynote speakers at the DLD Conference. On Day 2 of the conference, he played a simultaneous match against 10 players at once. After an almost two hour battle of wits, he managed to win all the games. The Chess Exhibition helped raise enough money to support the education of 100 out of school children in the academy.

Chess and Community Conference

Chess and Community serves as a nexus where chess mastery, robotics ingenuity, and debating proficiency intersect to cultivate critical thought, problem-solving skills, and constructive conflict resolution among young people. This nonprofit organization is committed to enriching youthful minds by harnessing chess’s strategic intricacies to bolster analytical prowess, leveraging robotics’ dynamic realm to address intricate challenges, and embracing debate’s potency to navigate conflicts with thoughtfulness and positivity. It’s a space where the exhilarating voyage of intellectual advancement and personal growth unfolds, where each chess move, every robot’s motion, and all debate utterances collectively shape future leaders.

In March, He had the honor of delivering the keynote speech at the Chess and Community Conference in collaboration with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) held in Athens, Georgia.

Guinness World Record 

Global Chess Master Tunde Onakoya  Attempted Guinness World Record for Longest Chess Marathon in Times Square, NYC

“I’m doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.”— Tunde Onakoya

On the 17th of April 2024, esteemed global chess master Tunde Onakoya, renowned for his groundbreaking initiative Chess in Slums, embarked on a monumental endeavor in the heart of Times Square, New York City. Supported by the esteemed global chess foundation The Gift of Chess, a 501(c)(3) organization, where he is a board member of the non-profit, as well as sponsors and chess players from around the world, Tunde Onakoya strove to break the Guinness World Record for the longest Chess marathon, an awe-inspiring feat lasting more than an incredible 60 hours without losing a game. 

Mr Onakoya’s courageous endeavor to set a Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, aiming to surpass the previous 56-hour record with an ambitious 58-hour feat, is not only a testament to his dedication but also a beacon of hope for underserved children across Africa.

Facts About Tunde Onakoya’s Guinness World Record Attempt

Fact 1: Definition of the Record According to Guinness World Records

• The record was for the longest time to continuously play chess.
• The record was to be attempted by a team of two players.
• The record was to be mentioned in hours, minutes and seconds.
• The same player must play against each other for the same duration.
• The attempt must take place in a public place/venue open to public inspection.
• 5 minutes rest is allowed for every continuously completed hour of activity (these can be accumulated).

 Fact 2: Previous Record Duration

The previous record stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds, achieved by Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Ferkingstad in Haugesund, Norway on November 11, 2018.

Fact 3: Duration of Tunde Onakoya’s Attempt

Tunde Onakoya’s goal was to engage in uninterrupted play for about 60 hours against the same opponent. His official start time was Wednesday, April 17th, at 11:30 AM (EST), and the attempt concluded on Friday, April 19th, 2024.

Fact 4: Who is Tunde’s Opponent?

This record attempt required a team of 2 players. Tunde Onakoya will be facing off against Shawn Martinez for the Challenge. Both players hold the title of National Masters.

Shawn Martinez, a US National Master, renowned New York City chess legend and chess coach, poses a formidable adversary.

Both Tunde Onakoya and Shawn Martinez will hold the record title.

Fact 5: Purpose of the Guinness World Record Attempt

The goal is to raise $1,000,000 to empower more children across Africa through the work done in Chess In Slums Africa and The Gift of Chess.

Mr. Onakoya’s dedication to this record-breaking challenge extends far beyond personal achievement. He passionately declares, “I’m doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education.” Throughout the grueling 60 hour marathon, Tunde Onakoya did not play alone. Instead, he was accompanied by the hopes and aspirations of millions of children globally who are fighting for the opportunity to thrive.