The World Darts Championship in London saw a pair of stunning upsets Wednesday, as underdogs from Kenya and Japan advanced to the second round. David Munyua made history as the first player from Africa outside of South Africa to compete in-and win at-the prestigious tournament, defeating world number 18 Mike de Decker. Shortly before Munyua’s victory, Japanese debutant Motomu Sakai also secured an unexpected win, setting the stage for a compelling continuation of the competition.
David Munyua surprises at the Darts World Championship.Image: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images
December 18, 2025, 18:04December 18, 2025, 18:04
A stunning upset unfolded at the World Darts Championship in London’s Alexandra Palace on Wednesday, as David Munyua became the first African player from outside of South Africa to compete in the tournament. The Kenyan dart player then delivered a massive shock, defeating world number 18 Mike De Decker of Belgium after falling behind 2-0 in sets.
Munyua’s victory is even more remarkable considering his relatively recent introduction to the sport. “It’s true, I’ve only been playing for three years,” the trained veterinarian explained prior to the championship. He previously focused on pool, but a casual game with a friend sparked a new passion. “One day I was having a beer with a friend, and he told me he used to play darts. He showed me how it works. I threw my first darts and thought, ‘Wow, this is fun.’”
The 30-year-old endured a rollercoaster match. He dropped the first leg of the opening set, then took an early lead in the second, only to squander multiple set darts and ultimately lose the set. Munyua frequently miscounted and threw at the wrong sections of the board, and at one point, a wasp famously landed on his face inside the Ally Pally arena. He even flirted with a nine-dart finish, rattling off six perfect darts in a row.
In the end, the underdog proved to have the stronger nerves. Fueled by his performance and the energy of the crowd, Munyua battled back to win sets three, four, and five, securing the match. The World Championship debutant averaged 80.78 points per three darts. De Decker posted a slightly better average of 83.83, but repeatedly missed opportunities to close out legs on the doubles.
“It’s absolutely one of the best moments of my life,” the veterinarian later told Sport1. He described the atmosphere at Ally Pally as overwhelming, adding, “I just tried to pull myself together and give my best.”
Japanese Player Also Causes Upset
The day’s surprises didn’t stop there. Earlier, Japanese debutant Motomu Sakai dispatched France’s Thibault Tricole in straight sets.
Sakai’s entrance was a spectacle in itself, as he danced onto the stage to anime music. Throughout the match, he continued to entertain the crowd with a series of celebratory moves. “I believe that the darts fly even better the more I dance,” Sakai said in the post-match press conference. The Japanese player will face Sweden’s Andreas Harrysson in the second round. (abu)
