In this post, Platinum Times Nigeria delves into the life story of World Guinness Chess player, Tunde Onakoya.
Tunde Onakoya is a Nigerian chess player and coach, who holds the Guinness World Records for the longest marathon chess game.
He is the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, a non-governmental organization which aims to help the less privileged people through the game of Chess.
He has organised a number of programmes for children across slums in Lagos state including Ikorodu, Makoko and recently, Oshodi.
In 2024, he teamed up with US chess master, Shawn Martinez in Times Square, New York to set a new world record of 58 hours and raise $1 million to educate children in underprivileged communities across Africa.
Birth
Tunde Onakoya was born on 6th October, 1994 in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Education
While growing up, Tunde Onakoya had to drop out from school because of lack of funds to further his studies.
However, while his mother worked as a secondary school cleaner in exchange for his tution fees, Onakoya learned to play chess at a barber’s shop in a slum in Ikorodu, Lagos where he grew up.
After completion of his secondary education, Onakoya bagged a diploma in computer science at Yaba College of Technology where he won the gold medal at the Nigeria Polytechnic Games and also at the RCCG Chess Championship.
He also won the National Friends of Chess and the Chevron Chess Open, making him to secure the spot as the 13th Chess player in Nigeria.
Philantropy
Tunde’s exposure and passion for the game of Chess propelled him to greater heights and provided him access to the good things of life.
Through his love for humanity, he established “Chess in slums”, a charity organization that is focused on empowering less privileged youths in Africa.
The organization partnered with Chess.com in September 2020 to provide easy access to education for children.
The organization has over the years sponsored over 200 children and also funded some with scholarships.
Achievements
Onakoya is a board member of the New York City-based non-profit foundation, “The Gift of Chess”.
On 20th April 2024, Onakoya broke the world chess marathon record which held in Times Square, New York, United States, he played for over 60 consecutive hours.
Onakoya’s endeavour was not just to break the world records, it was a aimed to raise $1million for the education of children in Africa, particularly those without access to quality education.
While he was trying to set a new record, he got supports from Nigerian community in New York, former vice president of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo, Kashim Shettima and celebrities like Davido and Adekunle Gold.