Tunde Onakoya, the newly crowned Guinness World Record holder for the longest unbeaten chess marathon, revealed that he battled food poisoning during his historic campaign.
Onakoya embarked on his quest to break the Guinness World record for the longest unbeaten chess marathon on Wednesday, April 17, at 10 am in Times Square, New York. His marathon, which aimed to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa, concluded at about 12:40 am on Saturday, surpassing the previous record of 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds.
Throughout the grueling marathon, Onakoya faced off against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, adhering to Guinness World Records guidelines. Despite experiencing health challenges, including intense vomiting and stomach pain due to food poisoning, Onakoya remained resolute, demonstrating unwavering determination to continue for the sake of children’s dreams.
Sharing his ordeal on social media, Onakoya expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received and revealed that food poisoning prevented him from eating throughout the marathon. His post highlighted the emotional and physical toll of the marathon, underscoring the significance of his first meal in almost four days.
Onakoya’s achievement resonates deeply in Nigeria, where he founded the Chess in Slums project in 2018, providing marginalized youth in Ikorodu, Lagos, with opportunities to learn and play chess. His dedication to empowering disadvantaged communities through chess exemplifies his commitment to education and social impact.
