An African World Darts Champion within five years? David Munyua tips 14-year-old Kenyan Luke Littler for future success

The darts world was stunned last December by one of the most surprising results in the sport’s history. Kenyan David Munyua produced a seismic upset by knocking out Belgian Mike De Decker, then ranked world number 18, at the World Darts Championship. Munyua eventually won 3-2.

What looked on paper like a straightforward win for De Decker, turned into a story that has since taken on mythical proportions.

Munyua’s victory stood out not only because of the ranking disparity, but also because of his own background.

The 30-year-old Kenyan only started playing darts three years ago and even had to borrow darts to compete at the World Darts Championship. That he managed to defeat an established name under those circumstances says a lot about his natural talent and mental strength.

As if that weren’t enough, the match also produced a bizarre moment when the infamous Ally Pally wasp landed on Munyua’s face during play. Where many players would completely lose focus, he remained remarkably calm. He carefully picked up the insect and even put it in his pocket to release it later. It earned him the nickname “The Wasp Whisperer.”

According to Munyua, his win is only the beginning. He sees a promising future for the sport on the African continent. “From five years we will be in a position where we can have a world champion," he says in quotes collected by the Daily Star. “We have what it takes. For now we have very few people with this exposure. In a few years we will have a good number. Out of that number we can get someone who can aim to win the World Championship.”

Those opportunities do appear to be coming. The number of African qualifying spots for the World Championship is being expanded and interest in darts is steadily growing in countries like Kenya. Munyua notices it himself. Strikingly, he is already pointing to a possible future star. In his home country he is mentoring a 14-year-old player who he believes has exceptional talent. “We have one in Kenya. I think he is 14 and he is doing quite well. He is called Aryan Khalsa."

The comparison with young darts sensations from Europe is an obvious one. “Back home we compete with him and he is doing well. He beats me sometimes and I try to push him where it’s possible. When he gets to 18 he will be in a position to do well. We are doing a lot to keep them believing that it is possible and that we have a chance to compete in major tournaments."

While those ambitions may sound bold, it’s clear that Munyua’s success has set something in motion. His shock on the sport’s biggest stage proved that talent can come from anywhere, even from countries where darts is still very much developing.

After his historic victory, one thing is certain: the darts world won’t be underestimating Africa any time soon.