By Chineu Asadu and John Minchillo, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York Citys Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.

Tunde Onakoya, 29, hopes to raise $1 million for childrens education across Africa through the record attempt that began on April 17.

He had set out to play the royal game for 58 hours but continued until he reached 60 hours at about 12:40 a.m. April 20, surpassing the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds, achieved in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flateb and Sjur Ferkingstad.

The Guinness World Record organization has yet to publicly comment about Onakoyas attempt. It sometimes takes weeks for the organization to confirm any new record.

Onakoya played against Shawn Martinez, an American chess champion, in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that any attempt to break the record must be made by two players who would play continuously for the entire duration.

Support had been growing online and at the scene, where a blend of African music kept onlookers and supporters entertained amid cheers and applause. Among the dozens who cheered Onakoya on at the scene was Nigerian music star Davido.

The record attempt is for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education, said Onakoya, who founded Chess in Slums Africa in 2018. The organization wants to support the education of at least 1 million children in slums across the continent.

My energy is at 100 percent right now because my people are here supporting me with music, Onakoya said later April 18 after the players crossed the 24-hour mark.

On Onakoyas menu: Lots of water and jollof rice, one of West Africas best-known dishes.

For every hour of game played, Onakoya and his opponent got only five minutes break. The breaks were sometimes grouped together, and Onakoya used them to catch up with Nigerians and New Yorkers cheering him on. He even joined in with their dancing sometimes.

A total of $22,000 was raised within the first 20 hours of the attempt, said Taiwo Adeyemi, Onakoyas manager.

The support has been overwhelming from Nigerians in the U.S., global leaders, celebrities and hundreds of passersby, he said.

Onakoyas attempt was closely followed in Nigeria, where he regularly organizes chess competitions for young people living on the streets.

More than 10 million school-age children are not in school in the West African country one of the worlds highest rates.

Among those who have publicly supported him are celebrities and public office holders, including Nigerias former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote to Onakoya on the social media platform X, Remember your own powerful words: It is possible to do great things from a small place.'

This version corrects that Osinbajo is Nigerias former vice president, not current vice president.

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

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Nigerian chess champion breaks Guinness World Record in New York - Afro American Newspaper