Nigerian man plays chess at global tourist landmarks, Harvard, videos go viral

Nigerian professional chess player and coach Tunde Onakoya has earned recognition on social media for playing chess at iconic global landmarks around the world on social media.

Tunde Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, posted the clip of him playing chess at the iconic Louvre Museum in Paris on his official X account, where he described the moment as a significant personal achievement. The video showed him seated near the famous Pyramid, casually playing chess while wearing an agbada, a traditional Nigerian outfit.

In the caption of his post, Onakoya wrote, “First Nigerian to play chess at the Louvre. The world’s most prestigious museum. They should probably hang this Agbada in the Louvre as well. We created magic with photography and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Watch the video here:

The viral moment came shortly after Onakoya received international recognition in Barcelona, where he was honoured as the first African recipient of the Lideramos Youth Award for Social Impact.

Reflecting on the honour, he wrote, “Deeply honoured to be recognised in Barcelona, Spain, as the first African to receive the Lideramos Youth Award for Social Impact."

Take a look at the post here:

Hailing from Ikorodu in Lagos, Onakoya’s journey from modest beginnings to becoming a national chess master has been widely documented. Through Chess in Slums Africa, he continued to use the game as a tool to educate and uplift children from underserved communities, blending mentorship with opportunity.

Beyond the Louvre moment, Tunde Onakoya has been steadily building a unique global narrative around the game by playing chess in culturally significant locations across the world. From the African market in Dubai, Hurtwood Park Polo Club in the UK, and Harvard University amongst other iconic public spaces and landmarks, his approach blends travel, culture, and chess into a form of visual storytelling that promotes both the game and the communities he represents.

Take a look at the videos here:

He has also been part of other high-profile international moments that blend the game with cultural and social impact. He staged a record-breaking chess marathon at Times Square, where he played continuously for a 64-hour duration against Shawn Martinez to raise awareness and support for children’s education through his initiative, Chess in Slums Africa.