Tunde Onakoya, a popular chess master, has clocked in 16 hours and is unbeaten as he attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, which is an astonishing 58 hours.
The event which kicked off on Wednesday, April 17, and is set to conclude on April 19, drawing attention from chess enthusiasts and spectators alike.

Among his notable achievements, Onakoya secured victory against New York’s own National Chess Master, Shawn Martinez, in a highly anticipated match.

On social media, updates on Onakoya’s progress are consistently shared, with a recent post on his X handle celebrating his latest victory against Martinez: “Tunde Onakoya beats a very worthy opponent and one of New York’s finest, National Chess Master Shawn Martinez!”

Onakoya's manager, known as Taiwo with the X handle "OgaBoxx," highlighted the marathon's demanding character.

Taiwo stated that after 15 hours of continuous play against 12 opponents, Onakoya took a cumulative 30-minute break in accordance with the guideline of five minutes of rest for every hour of play.

He stated, "After 15 hours of continuous play and 12 games unblemished, Tunde is currently taking a 30-minute breather. Keep supporting, streaming, and contributing. "Your energy is what keeps him going."

As the marathon progresses, Onakoya's incredible performance has sparked tremendous support, particularly among Nigerians both at home and abroad.

Messages of encouragement have poured in from various dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others.

The event has also not gone unnoticed by international diplomatic missions, with the US Mission Nigeria and UK in Nigeria extending their best wishes to Onakoya through their respective social media channels.