Sports
Guinness World Record: 16 hours in, Nigerian Onakoya remains unbeaten in chess marathon


Renowned chess master, Tunde Onakoya, who commenced his mission to surpass the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon for 58 hours, has played the game for 16 hours, winning all opponents.
The event, which is underway at New York City’s iconic Times Square, started on Wednesday, April 17, and is scheduled to end on April 19.
Onakoya has emerged triumphant in all encounters so far, including his match with New York’s National Chess Master, Shawn Martinez.
A post on his X handle early Thursday read, “Tunde Onakoya beats a very worthy opponent and one of New York’s finest, National Chess Master Shawn Martinez!”

Onakoya’s manager, known as Taiwo with the X handle “OgaBoxx,” has also provided insights into the nature of the challenge.
Taiwo stated that after 15 hours of continuous play with 12 opponents, Onakoya took an accumulated break of 30 minutes, as the rules stipulate a five-minute break for every hour of play.
He added that Onakoya is playing two sets of games simultaneously and must not lose either.

He wrote, “The opponent on the first set is Shawn Martinez, a US National Chess Master, and he will play with Tunde throughout the attempt.
“Opponents in the second set are random players. He can’t lose any game on either set.
“Only Tunde’s match against Shawn Martinez is considered valid for the record. He is not competing in his simultaneous play against random opponents in the second set. NYC, come out and play regardless.”
The event has garnered significant attention and support from Nigerians abroad who came out to support the chess master.

Onakoya has also received encouraging messages from various Nigerian dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima; former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others.
The US Mission Nigeria and UK in Nigeria have also sent their best wishes to Onakoya via their respective X handles.
Sports
LaLiga: I’m at my best right now – Vinicius Jr

Real Madrid attacker, Vinicius Jr has said that he is at his best right now.
The Brazilian is in the midst of a decent season with Los Blancos, having scored 17 goals and 12 assists in 35 games across competitions.
Nine of those goals and seven assists have come in 20 La Liga outings.
“I’m at my best right now. I had injuries. With so many games you can’t be 100% in all of them,” he told the press ahead Real Madrid clash with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League Round of sixteen at Santiago Bernabeu.
The Real beat their neighbours 2-1 to take a slim advantage into the second coming up next week .
“Playing 80 games you can’t always be at your best. You’re not always in your head and you’re not always physically fit.
A lot of players are playing with injuries.
“I think my season is going well. It’s normal that people demand more from me and want more from me.
But now comes the decisive moment of the season and at Madrid we play better at this stage of the season,” he added.
Real Madrid were defeated 2-1 by Real Betis in the La Liga at the weekend.
Sports
WSL: Payne delighted with Player of the Month nomination

Everton midfielder, Toni Payne, is excited to be nominated for the English Women’s Super League, WSL, Player of the Month for February.
Payne is one of the five nominees for the award.
It’s the first time the Nigeria international has been nominated for the individual prize.
“It definitely feels good. You know, it’s my first time in the league and the WSL.
I definitely knew it was going to be a struggle in the beginning, but I think I’m finally catching my stride here,” the Nigeria international told the club’s official website.
The 27-year-old registered two assists in three league appearances for Everton in February.
Recall that Payne joined Everton on a free transfer last summer.
Sports
BREAKING: Arsenal route to Champions League final confirmed as Mikel Arteta learns round of 16 opponents

Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16, it has been confirmed.
The draw for the last-16 was held in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, with the Gunners one of eight seeded teams after they finished in the top eight of the league phase.
With the Champion League now using a bracket system, just like in major international tournaments, Arsenal and the 15 other clubs still in the competition now know their possible route to the final, which will be played in Munich on May 31.
Arsenal were drawn on the silver side of the draw and will face PSV in the last-16. The Dutch side knocked Juventus out 4-3 on aggregate in the play-off round so will be a stern test for Mikel Arteta’s Squad.
Elsewhere in the round of 16, Aston Villa were drawn against Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund were drawn against Lille, Atletico Madrid were drawn against Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen were drawn against Bayern Munich, Feyenoord were drawn against Inter, PSG were drawn against Liverpool and Barcelona were drawn against Benfica.
With Arsenal on the silver side of the draw, the Gunners know that they will face one of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final, should they progress past PSV. The first leg of the quarter-final would be played at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s possible semi-final opponents include one of Liverpool, PSG, Club Brugge or Aston Villa.
As Arsenal were seeded for the draw, they will play at home in the round of 16 second leg. The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on March 4 and March 5, and the second legs will be played on March 11 and March 12.
Each club plays once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.
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