After that amount of time, NewsFeed is sure there’s no romance left in these couples.
Fourteen pairs of lovers locked lips starting Sunday morning in the Thai resort town of Pattaya. By Monday afternoon, seven were still smooching – and the old world record was shattered. But that didn’t stop the couples, who tightened their embraces with an eye on the grand prize, a diamond ring worth 50,000 Thai baht ($1,625) and 100,000 baht ($3,250) in cash.
(More on TIME.com: See why men and women kiss differently)
According to Guinness, the old record was set in Germany in 2009, with a total smooching time of 32 hours, 7 minutes and 14 seconds. The rules state that if the lovers’ lips part even the slightest, the couple’s marathon make-out session is over.
They’re allowed to drink water and juice, but only through straws, ensuring their lips remain pressed together. The kissers must stay embraced even during bathroom breaks, which are monitored by contest officials. But the harshest rules by far are the ban on sleeping and sitting. Some of the women perched themselves on platforms to stand lip-to-lip with their lovers for a slight bit of comfort in the competition. But such concessions might not be enough to ensure the kissers’ health, which is why organizers have emergency services at the ready.
(More on TIME.com: See the greatest movie kisses)
The competitors are on display in a shopping mall in the resort town, where gawking tourists snapped photos. After all, could it be the last time these lovers kiss? Following nearly two days of constant kissing, NewsFeed thinks we’d be done with the deed for life.
UPDATE: In the end it was Thai couple Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat who were the last lovers standing. They kissed for 46 hours, 24 minutes. Their feat is being verified by Guinness, after which they’ll be the world record holders. We hope they shared a kiss after winning the competition. Or maybe not. (via BBC)