By A, KNA
Kenya’s David Munyua stunned darts fans worldwide by defeating world-ranked No. 18 Mike de Decker at the PDC World Darts Championship, held at Alexandra Palace in London on December 18, 2025.
Munyua made history as the first Kenyan to win a match at the World Darts Championship, coming from 2-0 down to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory. The 30-year-old veterinarian became the first player from Kenya to appear at the tournament and made his first trip outside Africa to compete at Alexandra Palace.
The match initially looked bleak for Munyua after losing the first two sets. However, he mounted a scintillating comeback, winning the next two sets in deciding legs to level the match. A spectacular 135 checkout in the final set sealed a memorable victory over Belgian De Decker, who won one of the PDC’s major televised titles, the World Grand Prix, in October 2024.
“It is going crazy back in my country – everybody is like ‘we did it’. It’s a great feeling,” Munyua said. “Darts is a simple game. You don’t need acres of land to play – only a room with a board and the darts.”
Reflecting on hitting the winning double, he added: “I could not feel my hands. I was trying to be relaxed. I had to calm down as much as I could and concentrate because the crowd was going crazy about it.”
De Decker praised Munyua on social media for his victory, acknowledging the Kenyan’s remarkable comeback.
Munyua will now face either Dutchman Kevin Doets or England’s Matthew Dennant in the second round, who are scheduled to play on Friday.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is one of the main governing bodies for professional darts and organizes tournaments like the World Darts Championship, which Munyua is participating in.
The PDC is considered the most prestigious darts organization globally, with over £7 million in prize money distributed across its tournaments and a global audience exceeding 300 million viewers.
The other main governing body is the World Darts Federation (WDF), responsible for promoting and overseeing darts worldwide, with 76 full national members and three interim members. While both organizations manage tournaments and player rankings, the PDC is generally regarded as the more prominent and widely recognized body in professional darts.
Munyua’s historic win is a milestone for Kenya, inspiring darts players across the country and Africa to aim for global competitiveness in the sport.