The name of Tunde Onakoya was unknown as one of African voices half a decade ago except the quiet struggle in a poor neighborhood in the slums of Lagos that left many hopeless. Unlike thousands of young people raised in the poverty estranged background with little resources for livelihood talk more of a decent academic education, Onakoya buried his mind in a world that was invincible to everyone and emerged in April 2024 at the age of 29 years to become the world’s chess record holder. A feat that had been made by Norwegian players Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018. Yet a Nigerian youth from one of the poorest neighborhoods in Nigeria to the center of the world’s most metropolitan cities, New York city.
His success is one measured beyond just academic qualification or luck, but a combination of God’s grace, discipline, determination and sacrifice. Even his own parents have become amazed at how their son has changed his trajectory from one of the millions of young Nigerians uncertain of the future to one who now commands the world at his turf. Onakoya has not only become a world celebrity as a result of his stride in the world of chess but also an influencer to millions of poor children, brand ambassador for top businesses in Africa and a leader to a new generation of young disruptors. He holds the world’s record for longest chess marathon for both 60 hours in 2024 and 64 hours in 2025.
As the founder and convener of Chess in Slums Africa from 2018 leading the organization mission of discovering and grooming children in the game of chess across Africa. The organization has organized a number of interventions for children across slums in Lagos and northern parts of Nigeria. As of June 2021, he led the team in training over 200 children out of which 20 got lifelong scholarships. In addition to grooming children, Onakoya has committed to using the game of chess to raise millions of dollars for the establishment of tuition free schools for poor and under privileged children across Africa.
His success earned him a place in the international spotlight featuring on U.S. based television network, Cable News Network (CNN) and serving on the board of the New York based non-profit organization, The Gift of Chess.
Tunde Onakoya did not have an easy journey of academic pursuit such that his mother had to clean his school in exchange for secondary school fees. His proclivity steered a way for him to earn his diploma in Computer Science from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State. Chess paved the way for him starting from the slum to the world. The name of Tunde Onakoya now dominates the world’s sport of chess, from the slums of Nigeria to the world’s best cities. He commits to a lifelong mission to give every child the opportunity to find themselves in this world through chess.