Guinness World Record Holder Tunde Onakoya Announces Break from X, Citing Platform as ‘Overwhelming

Tunde Onakoya , the acclaimed Nigerian chess champion and Guinness World Record holder, has announced a temporary departure from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The decision, shared in a post on his official handle on Thursday, comes five months after his globally celebrated achievement.

Citing Mental Well-being

In his brief but poignant announcement, Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, disclosed that the online environment had become emotionally taxing, necessitating a focus on his mental health. He explained that the platform had grown “overwhelming” and expressed a need to “guard my heart.”

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Onakoya’s post conveyed a clear sense of fatigue from the digital sphere: “I feel too much darkness in the world pressing in. I will be stepping away for a while,” he wrote.

Communication Channels Remain Open

Despite stepping back from X, Onakoya assured his followers that he is not entirely disconnecting from the public sphere. He advised fans and professional contacts that they could reach him via his official email address for any important matters. Furthermore, he confirmed that he would continue to share his thoughts and updates on the social media platform Instagram.

The timing of this announcement is notable, occurring roughly five months after Onakoya achieved global acclaim. In April 2024, he successfully set a new world record for the longest chess marathon, drawing immense international attention to Nigerian chess and his philanthropic work. This recent period of high-profile global engagement may have contributed to the fatigue he described, leading to the necessary temporary withdrawal.

This break highlights the growing trend among public figures to prioritize digital detox and mental well-being in the face of intense social media pressure and scrutiny.