- David Munyua came back from two sets down to win 3–2
- He defeated the 18th seed and World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker
- Munyua became the first Kenyan to win at Alexandra Palace
David Munyua, a 30-year-old veterinarian from Kenya, delivered one of the biggest shocks in darts history after defeating Belgium’s Mike De Decker 3–2 at Alexandra Palace on Thursday night. De Decker, the reigning World Grand Prix champion and 18th seed, had been widely tipped to cruise through the match.
Instead, fans at Ally Pally witnessed an unforgettable turnaround.
Playing at the World Darts Championship for the first time, Munyua struggled early and lost the opening two sets. But as the match went on, he settled, improved his scoring, and showed remarkable calm under pressure.
As De Decker began to falter, Munyua grew in confidence, winning three straight sets to complete a stunning comeback. When the final dart hit its mark, the Kenyan star froze in disbelief before embracing the cheers from the crowd, who had quickly rallied behind the underdog.
Speaking moments after the match, Munyua struggled to hide his emotions.
“It is amazing. I was not expecting it,” he said. “It is a very big moment for the sport itself, for Africa, for Kenya. I am happy I did my best.”
His win makes him the first Kenyan ever to record a victory at Alexandra Palace, the most famous stage in darts.
Beyond the result, Munyua’s victory is being seen as a breakthrough for African darts. The sport has long been dominated by European players, with limited professional exposure on the continent.
Many believe his success could inspire more African players to take up the game and push for international competition.
Earlier in the session, Japan’s Motomu Sakai also impressed fans. His lively walk-on, complete with dancing, high fives and autographs, won over the crowd before he backed it up with a confident straight-sets win over France’s Thibault Tricole, averaging 87.38.
But the day belonged to Munyua, whose name is now firmly written into darts history.
