Sport

Chess Marathon: Tunde Onakoya Pushes for 60-hour to Dust Own 58-Hour Record

By Web News 856

Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, on Saturday set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess.

The chestmaster confirmed this in a post on his official X account.

He wrote, “We have done it.

“We’re pushing to 60 hours guys. We’re not stopping yet. Let’s keep going.

“We have a fundraising goal to meet for the education of African children around the world. This is our why – the reason we are doing this.

“Let’s demonstrate to the world the incredible power of love. Together, we can make this happen.

Onakoya broke the record of Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, who played for 56-hour, 9-minute in 2018 and aimed at reaching the 58-hour target.

The challenge, which is underway at New York City’s iconic Times Square, has currently exceeded 56 hours and a few minutes and already set him adrift of the previous record holders.

The new record holder said his attempt was to raise funds and awareness for providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children across Africa.

In a statement by his foundation, Chess in Slums Africa, Onakoya said he will be joined by his US counterpart, Shawn Martinez.

It read in part, “This record attempt requires a team of two players. Tunde Onakoya (NG) will be facing off against Shawn Martinez (US) 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 as a formidable adversary. Both Tunde Onakoya and Shawn Martinez will hold the record title.”

“This record is for the longest time to continuously play chess. This record is to be mentioned in hours, minutes, and seconds. This record is to be attempted by a team of two players,” it added.

After about 23 hours into the game, Martinez joined to make the new world record.

Meanwhile, Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Singer Davido, and Adekunle Gold, have all shown support for Onakoya to break the new record.

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Sport

Oyo Chess Team Is In Edo To Surpass 2018 Record-Bunmi Olape

By Web News 1151

Head Coach of Oyo state chess team at the ongoing Sports Festival in Edo state, Bummi Olape says the state’s players are in high spirits to surpass the record of the 2018 national Sports Festival in Abuja.Oyo Chess Team is in Edo to surpass 2018 record-Bunmi Olape
Speaking with Radio Nigeria at the chess section of the festival at the University of Benin, Edo state, Olape stated that the state won six medals at the last edition.
He said the state has a very strong team, while the state is the defending champions in the male section.
“We have a very good team and we will surpass what we achieved at the last edition”
The International Master of Chess said the state would be competing for 16 medals in both male and female categories.
Olape added that he is banking on the likes of Femi Balogun, the only African to have participated at the recent World Championship, the current female national champion, Deborah Akintoye and Daniel Anwuli, the current male national champion to rake in gold medals for the state while not ruling out other chess players to put in a brilliant performance as they look to surpass their 2018 six medals haul.

Olaolu Fawole