Tunde Onakoya, the recently crowned Guinness World Record holder for the longest unbeaten chess marathon, reveals that he grappled with food poisoning during his remarkable feat.
The new chess record holder made the revelation on his X handle recently while eating a plate of jollof rice.
Onakoya’s pursuit of the record, which spanned 58 hours, began on Wednesday, April 17, at 10 am in Times Square, New York, concluding around 12:40 am on Saturday, 20th April 2024.
Despite encountering health setbacks such as intense vomiting and stomach pain, Onakoya persevered, continuing his game against American chess champion Shawn Martinez in accordance with Guinness World Records guidelines.
Throughout the marathon, Onakoya’s determination to raise $1 million for children’s education across Africa remained unwavering, earning him widespread support from online well-wishers and spectators.
Despite his challenges, Onakoya’s commitment to the cause remained steadfast, as he stated;
I will play on for the dreams of millions of children.
Tunde Onakoya – Guinness World Record holder for the longest unbeaten chess marathon
After completing the marathon, Onakoya disclosed on his social media platform that he endured food poisoning, preventing him from consuming anything except water for nearly four days.
Despite this setback, Onakoya’s efforts to promote chess, particularly through his Chess in Slums project launched in 2018, have made him a well-known figure in Nigeria.
Story: Christy Dung
Credit: Tunde Onakoya/X