A Kenyan veterinarian has written his name into darts history after producing a stunning upset at the PDC World Darts Championship in London, knocking out one of the tournament’s seeded players on his debut appearance.
David Munyua, a 30 year old vet from Kenya, came from two sets down to defeat the 18th seed Mike De Decker 3 2 at Alexandra Palace on Thursday. De Decker is the reigning World Grand Prix champion and was widely expected to progress comfortably, making the result one of the biggest shocks ever seen on the Ally Pally stage.
Playing in London for the first time and making his World Championship debut, Munyua became the first Kenyan to win a match at the sport’s most famous venue. After dropping the opening two sets, he found his rhythm and composure, steadily turning the match around as the Belgian struggled to contain the pressure.
When the final dart landed, Munyua stood in disbelief before soaking in the reaction from the crowd, many of whom had quickly taken to the underdog story unfolding in front of them.
“It is amazing. I was not expecting it,” Munyua said in his on stage interview. “It is a very big moment for the sport itself, for Africa, for Kenya. I am happy I did my best.”
The result marks a significant milestone not just for Munyua, but for African darts more broadly, a sport that has long been dominated by European players and competitions. His victory is expected to inspire greater interest and participation across the continent, where professional opportunities remain limited.
Elsewhere in the afternoon session, Japan’s Motomu Sakai also caught the eye, becoming an instant crowd favourite with an exuberant walk on that featured energetic dancing, high fives and autographs. Sakai then backed up the showmanship with a composed performance, cruising to a straight sets win over France’s Thibault Tricole while averaging 87.38.
