Kenyan David Munyua made the biggest surprise of the 2026 World Darts Championship so far. He beat Mike De Decker 3:2 in sets in the first round.
The 30-year-old qualifier and the only African representative at the tournament in London’s Alexandra Palace was already losing 0:2, but after a sensational turn, he advanced to the second round at the expense of the seeded 18.
De Decker was the clear favorite in the match. Last year’s winner of one of the major World Grand Prix tournaments was listed by bookmakers at odds of 1.03, while the odds for the first Kenyan in the history of the World Cup were as high as 13.
He seemed to have missed the chance
Munyua defied his opponent from the start, but seemed to squander the chance. After eating the opening set, he led 2:0 on the legs in the second, but the Belgian won three games in a row and thus finally the set.
The outsider, who was driven by the sold-out audience, also made several unnecessary mistakes in counting, but nevertheless turned the duel around. An average of just over 80 points on three darts was enough for him.
VIDEO: Match David Munyua – Mike De Decker od 18:25 min
“It’s unbelievable, I didn’t expect something like this at all. Even though I was losing, I tried to play my game. It’s a big moment for sport in Kenya, and in the whole of Africa.
If I can do it, others can do something similar,” said the surprising winner in an interview with Sky Sports right on stage.
Munyua is guaranteed £25,000 to advance to the second round.
The women have yet to win a set
The amateur darts player, who works as a veterinarian in Kenya, told the British media before the tournament that he had traveled outside the African continent for the first time in his life.
His promotion to the championship was already a surprise. In the qualification, he dealt with, among other things, the best players from the Republic of South Africa, where darts has the greatest tradition among African countries.
In the next match, Munyuu will face the better of the unseeded players Kevin Doets – Matthew Dennant, who will open the championship program on Friday.
During the 8th day of play, two Japanese players were also in action. While Motomu Sakai surprised with a 3-0 win over Frenchman Thibault Tricole, his compatriot Mitsuhiko Tatsunami lost to Michael van Gerwen 1-3.
The former long-time leader of the rankings and three-time world champion struggled at first, and it wasn’t long before he lost 0:2 in sets. In the end, however, the Dutchman did not commit a similar sensation as in the case of Munyuu.
England’s Dave Chisnall also secured a place in the second round, defeating Fallon Sherrock without any major problems. The “Queen of the Palace” paid for a weak 13 percent closing success rate and won only three legs.
Thus, she did not follow up on 2019, in which she was the first woman to win a match (even two) at the PDC World Championship. The women are not doing well in London at the moment – they haven’t even won a set yet. Gemma Hayter and Beau Greaves will still be able to change that.
This year, the World Cup is being played for the first time in an expanded format with 128 players, and record premiums are also an attraction. The winner of the final, which takes place on January 3, 2026, will improve by a million pounds.
