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After scripting history with a trailblazing maiden appearance at the PDC World Darts Championship, African darts champion David Munyua says he is far from done, vowing to reclaim continental supremacy and punch his ticket back to the sport’s biggest stage.
Munyua carved his name into the record books as the first Kenyan to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship, the pinnacle of global darts, after storming to victory at the African qualifiers with a composed triumph over South Africa’s Cameron Carolissen.
The 30-year-old veterinarian then raised the bar even higher in his debut appearance, producing a stirring comeback from 2-0 down to claim his first-ever win at the championship over Belgium’s world number 18 Mike De Decker.
Munyua piped De Decker 3–2 to advance to the second round, a result that sent ripples through the Alexandra Palace arena and the continent.
However, the fairytale run hit a hurdle in round two, where Munyua bowed out 3–0 to Dutch ace Kevin Doets, bringing his historic campaign to a close.
The championship ultimately saw 18-year-old English sensation Luke Littler successfully defend his title with a dominant 7–1 victory over Dutchman Gian van Veen.
Fresh from securing his global berth, Munyua admits the taste of the world stage has only sharpened his appetite ahead of the 2026 season.
“After making my first global championship, there is no sleeping because I still want to defend my African title this year,” Munyua said.
He is equally bullish about making a swift return to the PDC World Championships, insisting belief and experience are now firmly on his side.
“I don’t have a reason why I should not be at the next PDC tournament. That is my biggest target, and with the experience I have gained, I am sure I will go even further in the next championship,” he said.
Reflecting on his maiden global outing, Munyua described the experience as invaluable. “It was an amazing experience. This is one of the highest-ranked sports in the UK, and the competition there was very intense,” he noted.
His standout moment remains the shock victory over De Decker, a win that elevated him into Kenyan sporting folklore. “Winning against the world’s number 18 was history because I became the first Kenyan to win a match at the PDC,” he said. “As a darts player, you know anything can happen. That day I just believed in myself, and I am happy I got the win.”
The win sparked widespread acclaim back home, with Munyua revealing how the achievement resonated beyond traditional darts circles. “Kenyans were very proud on social media. Even those who did not know about darts before started taking an interest,” he said.
“Players from Kenya and around Africa congratulated me, and even President William Ruto congratulated me.”
Despite the second-round exit, Munyua insists the defeat to Doets proved a vital learning curve in his career. “Doets is among the good players in the Netherlands. Losing is also winning because you learn from it. It showed me what I need to improve on in my game,” he explained.
Away from the darts board, the championship delivered a personal highlight for the lifelong football fan, with a visit to Stamford Bridge topping his list of memories.
“The highlight of the tournament for me was visiting Stamford Bridge and getting to watch my favourite team Chelsea play,” he said with a smile.
As the 2026 season unfolds, Munyua is now turning his focus to securing sponsorship support, which he believes is key to sustained growth and consistent exposure at elite tournaments.
“I would like to find more sponsors from Kenyan companies so that I can participate in big tournaments. As a player, you need consistent high-level competition to keep yourself on your toes,” he noted.
Beyond personal ambition, Munyua is eager to see darts gain wider recognition across Kenya and the continent. “We need more awareness so that people in the region and Africa as a whole can know about the game,” he said.
He also highlighted the stark contrast between Africa and Europe in nurturing talent. “In European nations, there are structures in place where very young players get exposure to tournaments and grow up sharpening themselves in the game,” he explained.
“In Africa, darts is majorly played by older men. We need to introduce the sport in learning institutions so that we nurture it early.”
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