Popular Afrobeat artist, David Adeleke, known as Davido, has expressed his support for renowned chess Master, Tunde Onakoya, as he aims to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon. Joining Davido in supporting Onakoya are Nigerian singer Adekunle Kosoko, also known as Adekunle Gold, Nigeria’s Consul-General in New York City, Ambassador Peter Egopija, and Omoyele Sowore, among others.
Onakoya, who is currently participating in the event at New York City’s Times Square, shared updates on his X account on Thursday. He mentioned that he had played 100 games so far, with 87 against his main opponent, Coach Shawn Mar, and 13 against external challengers. At the 31-hour mark, with 27 hours to go, Onakoya expressed optimism and urged supporters to keep streaming and donating.
The chess marathon began at 10 am on Wednesday, April 17, and is scheduled to conclude at 8 pm on April 19. Onakoya’s goal is to play for 58 consecutive hours without a single defeat, surpassing the current Guinness World Record set by Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad of Norway, which stands at 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 37 seconds.
Davido’s support for Onakoya has garnered attention, with a video of his endorsement shared on social media platforms. The chess master’s record-breaking attempt has gained significant traction and is being closely followed by chess enthusiasts and fans around the world.