Odin Blikra Vea and Askild Bryntwo Norwegians have broken the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon with a time of 61 hours, 03 minutes and 34 seconds.

On May 30, a few weeks after Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess master and founder of Chess in African Slumsa chess marathon in the United States ended in an attempt to set a new world record, Blikra and Bryn announced their shot.

Interestingly enough, the GWR reviewed and ratified their attempt while remaining silent about Onakoya, who completed a record match on April 20, after days of mental endurance and sleep deprivation. Onakoya played for more than 58 hours in Times Square without losing to anyone.

While the Norwegians’ record of 61 hours may be Onakoya’s for the longest chess marathon, there is no evidence that either of the two winners played against anyone without losing.

Onakoya played with Shawn Martinez, also a chess master. While the duo broke the existing record, they simultaneously raised funds to support a transformative global free chessboard distribution via the Gift of chess to support a large number of disadvantaged people, including children and victims of humanitarian crises.

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Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad from Norway were the joint titleholders for Onakoya’s attempt.

But Onakoya did everything he could to raise the bar higher than the 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds the duo achieved in 2018.

The delay in officially recognizing Onakoya has raised some curiosity, but the GWR did not respond to a July 16 query from the FIJ via its website.

STANDARD EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT PERIOD

For standard record attempts, the GWR will review the documentation in 12 weeks and tell applicants whether their attempt has been accepted or rejected. If there are many applications, the waiting period may be longer.

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In any event, the waiting time for the assessment of evidence is a maximum of 16 weeks. rulethe GWR has another month to decide on Onakoya’s record attempt.