David Munyua’s rise to the World Darts Championship has been swift, unconventional and, now, historic.
The 30-year-old Kenyan, a full-time veterinarian from Murang’a, only began playing darts seriously three years ago.
With no professional circuit around him and limited competitive exposure, Munyua developed his game through local tournaments, driven less by ambition than by discipline and curiosity. His steady improvement saw him emerge as Africa’s leading player, earning qualification for the World Darts Championship through the African Darts Group.
That journey alone placed him among pioneers. What followed at Alexandra Palace elevated him into history.
On his World Championship debut, Munyua faced World No.18 Mike De Decker, a seasoned Belgian and heavy favourite. The opening exchanges followed expectation. De Decker raced into a two-set lead, while Munyua endured two miscounts that threatened to derail his night before it truly began.
Instead, the Kenyan responded with clarity.
Munyua settled into the contest, tightened his scoring and began to dictate tempo. Set by set, he erased the deficit, surviving match darts and navigating a match filled with fine margins and elite quality. Both players flirted with perfection, Munyua reaching six darts into a possible nine-darter, while De Decker struck seven perfect darts before missing a decisive treble.
Amid the tension, play was briefly interrupted when a wasp landed on Munyua mid-match, a moment later confirmed by the PDC to have been calmly handled before he resumed and completed his comeback.
The result was seismic.
Munyua closed out a 3–2 victory to become the first Kenyan ever to win a match at the World Darts Championship, handing De Decker one of the most notable first-round defeats in recent tournament history.
The achievement was made even more remarkable by the circumstances. Munyua competed using a borrowed set of darts and had travelled to London having never previously left Africa, relying on sponsorship support to make the journey possible. By reaching the second round, he has secured a minimum of £25,000 in prize money.
Now into uncharted territory, Munyua will face either Kevin Doets or Matthew Dennant next, with the possibility of a deeper run firmly alive.
Whatever follows, one truth is already established. From Murang’a to Alexandra Palace, David Munyua has redrawn the boundaries of African darts and announced himself, and his continent, to the world.
