Tunde Onakoya

Tunde Onakoya is a prominent Nigerian chess player, coach, and founder of Chess in Slums Africa. He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess game, played for over 60 consecutive hours in New York in 2024. Onakoya, born on October 6, 1994, in Ikorodu, Nigeria, learned chess in a slum where he grew up and later became the number 13 chess player in Nigeria.His organization, Chess in Slums Africa, aims to empower children in impoverished communities through chess, education, and mentorship.

The initiative has impacted over 10,000 children’s lives, securing scholarships for over 500 children to local and international institutions. Onakoya’s dedication to using chess as a tool for social intervention has earned him recognition, including being named the Social Impact Person of the Year in 2022.His work has been featured by various media outlets and has garnered international attention for its transformative impact on underprivileged children in Africa