Under the beaming lights of New York's iconic Times Square, Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya is attempting an ambitious challenge to break the record for the longest chess marathon.
He aims to play for 58 consecutive hours and raise $1m (£805,000) for charity in the process.
The money, he says, will support chess education for millions of children.
Hundreds of supporters have shown up to cheer on the chess master, including Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido.
The Nigerian community in New York has rallied behind their compatriot, providing Mr Onakoya with music and energising him with supplies of classic Nigerian dishes, including the beloved national staple, jollof rice.
Back home in Nigeria, people are throwing their support behind Onakoya as they watch him try to conquer the record on Twitch, a video-streaming service.
"Mr Onakoya is a symbol of excellence and resilience that distinguish Nigerians both at home and abroad... Go, make history, and inscribe our name in gold," Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima posted on X.
"Lagos is rooting for you," Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu told Onakoya, adding that his attempt was "a powerful testament to how greatness can emerge from anywhere".
By 03:00 on Friday New York time (07:00 GMT), Mr Onakoya had played for 39 hours and raised more than $42,000.
After crossing the halfway point, he said achieving the record was "looking possible now".
He is set to play until at least 20:00 New York time on Friday, which will see him clock 58 hours and surpass the world record, recognised by Guinness World records, of 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds, which was set by Norwegian duo Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad in 2018.
Mr Onakoya, 29, credits chess with saving him from the overwhelming poverty he faced growing up in Lagos's infamous floating slums.
His NGO, Chess in Slums Africa, teaches children from poor communities chess and helping them with their education.
Mr Onakoya is also a board member of the US non-profit The Gift of Chess, which works to transform lives through chess and is targeting to distribute one million chess sets to underserved communities by 2030.
Latest Stories
-
Akufo-Addo’s assertion of dumsor’s end misleading, says IES
15 mins -
Ghana registers 31 fresh COVID-19 infections
19 mins -
Vote for a government committed to upholding integrity of Public Service – GLOGSAG to Civil Servants
37 mins -
Kasoa protests ‘bad name’
44 mins -
Yaw Nsarkoh: Bit by bit we will understand China
7 hours -
Looted and returned: Asante royal artefacts on display for public viewing at Manhyia Museum
7 hours -
Suspected killer in Kasoa land dispute shooting not a National Security operative
8 hours -
Ghana appoint four Para Athletics coaches in Preparation for Paris 2024
8 hours -
Kumasi Cheshire Home decries inadequate equipment; seeks public support
8 hours -
UCL: Niclas Fullkrug hands Dortmund first leg advange over PSG
9 hours -
GPL: Accra Lions beat Hearts of Oak to go third
10 hours -
Seek higher grounds as rains intensify – GMet warns
11 hours -
May Day: Sam Ankrah promises to prioritise welfare and well-being of workers if elected president
11 hours -
Bawumia plans door-to-door campaign for 2024 polls
11 hours -
GAF condemns ‘unprovoked’ fatal shooting of soldier in Kasoa land dispute
11 hours