Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has been presented with an SUV after defeating Nordmotors CEO Ajayi Oluwatobi in a chess game.
Onakoya shared the news in a post on his official X page.
Onakoya recounted the backstory of giving his only car to his father before embarking on his Guinness World Record attempt at Times Square in New York.
He wrote, “Just before I traveled to America, I called my dad and gave him my only car. He had sold his taxi 13 years ago so I could pay for my WAEC and JAMB examination fees.
“The joy on his face brought tears—it was the least I could do for my parents who sacrificed everything so I could get an education.
“It wasn’t clear how I was going to get a new car without spending a fortune but I had faith.”
The unexpected twist came when Onakoya received a call from Oluwatobi, the CEO of Nordmotors.
He was invited for a chat and a chess match at the CEO’s office.
During their conversation, Oluwatobi proposed an extraordinary deal: if Onakoya could defeat him, he could choose any car in their showroom for free.
“Knowing he was a strong chess player from our previous game analyses (although we had never played before), I accepted the challenge.
“After about an hour of intense play, I managed to win from a very complex position,” Onakoya shared.
In addition to winning the SUV, Onakoya has been named the automobile company’s global brand ambassador.
He expressed his excitement and gratitude, saying, “This all still feels surreal, but I’m thrilled to announce that I am now a global brand ambassador for @nordmotionmotors and the proud owner of a NORD A7 SUV built and assembled in Nigeria.
“Life really isn’t scripted, and I’m super grateful to be able to use my gift to inspire the world and affect lives positively. This has inadvertently brought a lot of goodness my way too and this love is one I’ll never take for granted.”
Ajayi Oluwatobi also shared his perspective on the match on X.com, writing, “I played a really good game of chess against #Tunde_OD for about an hour. It was a very interesting game that I almost won.”
SEE THE POST BELOW:
Just before I traveled to America, I called my dad and gave him my only car. he had sold his taxi 13 years ago so I could pay for my WAEC and JAMB examination fees. The joy on his face brought tears- it was the least I could do for my parents who sacrificed everything so I could… pic.twitter.com/RpjdGB8Uzp
— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD) June 6, 2024
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