Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, has shown up at the New York’s Times Square in the United States to support Nigerian chess Master, Tunde Onakoya, in his attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
In a video making the rounds on social media, Davido and Onakoya could be seen embracing each other while the crowd gathered at the venue cheered on seeing the afrobeats star coming out to support a compatriot.
Among those who have also come out to support Onakoya include Nigerian singer, Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, Nigeria’s Consul-General in New York City, Ambassador Peter Egopija, and Omoyele Sowore among others.
Sharing updates on his X account on Thursday, Onakoya wrote, “Game number 100. 87 against my main opponent #CoachShawnMar. 13 against external challengers.
“We are now 31 hours in, with 27 to go! That puts us officially past the halfway mark. It’s looking possible now. Keep streaming, keep donating.”
The event, which is underway at New York City’s iconic Times Square, started at 10am on Wednesday, April 17, and is scheduled to end at 8pm on April 19.
Onakoya is engaging in an intense chess marathon, aiming to play for 58 hours without a single defeat.
The current record, set by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad of Norway on November 11, 2018, stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds.
His goal is to play for 58 consecutive hours and raise $1m (£805,000) for charity, specifically for chess education among children. With hundreds of supporters, including Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido, cheering him on, Onakoya is fueled by the support of his community, both in New York and back home in Nigeria.
In Lagos, Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu are among those rallying behind Onakoya, hailing him as a symbol of Nigerian excellence. On Twitch, viewers from Nigeria and beyond are watching as he strives to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
As of 03:00 New York time (07:00 GMT) on Friday, Onakoya had played for 39 hours and raised over $42,000. Confident in his progress, he aims to continue until at least 20:00 New York time on Friday, surpassing the current record of 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds.
Chess holds a special significance for Onakoya, who credits the game with rescuing him from poverty in Lagos’s slums. Through his NGO, Chess in Slums Africa, and his involvement with The Gift of Chess, he is dedicated to providing chess education and opportunities to underserved communities, aiming to distribute one million chess sets by 2030.
