Norwegian Duo Aim to Smash 60-Hour Chess Marathon Record

Norwegian chess enthusiasts Askild Bryn and CM Odin Blikra Vea aim to make history by playing for 61 hours straight. Their ambitious GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ attempt for the Longest Chess Marathon will take place next week.

Staying awake for 24 hours is manageable for most people, but 37-year-old Bryn and 40-year-old Blikra Vea intend to push the limits further by staying awake for an astounding 61 hours. And all while playing non-stop blitz.

The idea came a year ago, and they've been carefully planning ever since. Now it has grown bigger than they expected with their own stream, all games live, and an upcoming Chess.com documentary about the attempt: "We are very well-prepared, but this will be much more brutal than we can imagine," Blikra Vea tells Chess.com.

Their GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS attempt for the Longest Chess Marathon will take place in Stavanger, Norway on June 2-5, coinciding with the Norway Chess tournament.

Norway has a history of such attempts. In 1984 FM Joran Aulin-Jansson played chess for an incredible 92 hours and 26 minutes, or almost four days, then missed a crucial signature, preventing the record's approval.

The official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title is held by Norwegian FMs Sjur Ferkingstad and Hallvard Haug Flatebo who played blitz for 56 hours and 9 minutes in Haugesund, Norway in 2018. Three years earlier, IM Magne Sagafos and Joachim Berg-Jensen played for 40 hours and 40 minutes, also during Norway Chess in Stavanger.

Nigerian chess player Tunde Onakoya surpassed that mark in New York's iconic Times Square in April, by lasting 60 hours. Guinness World Records have strict documentation guidelines and the feat is still pending approval. To ensure their attempt is recognized, Bryn and Blikra Vea aim to play for 61 hours. 

While Onakoya played games of classical, rapid, and blitz chess against various opponents, the two Norwegians will stick to five-minute blitz games. "We will be playing more than 300 games, so that should make it more tiring," he said.

Bryn (FIDE Blitz 2127) and Blikra Vea (FIDE Blitz 2085) are keen chess lovers, who no longer have any ambitions chess-wise. Instead they have set their eyes on a more attainable goal.

"It will be a completely different achievement, one that could last forever. It's a record we could keep for life," Bryn says.

The two friends have gone through months of intensive training that included physical workouts, meditation, and countless hours of blitz chess, culminating in a 28-hour blitz match. 

"The match went well. We were able to confirm that we should be able to do it. What was amusing was that the next day we both took part in a 30-round blitz event, where the other players complained a bit after 20 rounds, while we were completely fine," Blikra Vea said, adding: "Our chess stamina has clearly improved!"

Their preparation also included advice and training matches against none other than GM Magnus Carlsen.

According to the official rules from Guinness World Records, players are allowed five-minute breaks every hour, or can choose to group them together for a longer 30-minute break every six hours. The timing of the breaks during the three days has been carefully planned to maximize the effect, as has the scheduling of eating, drinking, and resting.

"Staying awake will obviously be the difficult part, but I didn't expect it to be so tiring to play chess, to use all that energy in addition. We have to carefully preserve energy. We will try to take it easy and avoid crazy time scrambles," Blikra Vea said.

The duo said they will combat sleep deprivation by focusing on getting sunlight every day, taking cold showers, and brushing their teeth in the morning, in order to trick the body into staying awake longer.

"I am 90-95 percent sure we will break the record," Askild said, to which Odin joked: "I am 80 percent sure we will break it, but I am 99 percent sure that if we don't break it, it won't be because of me!"

Askild and Odin's odyssey of blitz begins on June 2 at 8.45 a.m. CEST and lasts until June 4, 10 p.m. The time control is five minutes for each side. Every move of the match will be covered live by Chess.com. The players will also be wearing a pulse meter. 

The attempt will seek to raise funds for breast cancer research. 

SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE 🙏 Guinness World Record Chess Marathon Match + Breast Cancer research = 🩷! Breast cancer caused 670000 deaths globally in 2022. Every 14 seconds, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Donate here, even the smallest amount counts: https://t.co/DXx1TLBVg4 pic.twitter.com/6Yiz1lPln5

— Sjakksnakk (@sjakksnakk) May 27, 2024

Will Askild and Odin break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title? Share your thoughts in the comments below!