Cameron Carolissen wins African World Championship qualifier after incredible finale

Cameron Carolissen will compete at the 2025 World Darts Championship in December for the second time in his career. The 28-year-old from Cape Town, South Africa won last Sunday's World Championship qualifier for African darts, which was played in Kenya.

The South African worked his way past six Kenyan darters during the qualifying tournament. He easily made it through his first four rounds against Antony Ngigi (4-0), Benson Ngari (4-1), Manpreet Kalsi (5-2) and Francis Waithaka (6-0). He then recorded a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Nathan Njeru (7-5).

Peter Wachiuri became the other finalist. The darter from Kenya won over Kipngetich Ngeno (4-0), Harmeet Khalsa (4-2), David Munyua (4-3), Jacob Njuguna (5-1), Carl Gabriel (6-5) and Ocheng Patrick (7-5), capturing the imagination of social media in the process.

The final was one of pretty good standard. Both Africans threw an average above 85, and only one of the 15 legs played did not go out within six visits. Early in the final, Wachiuri took a 3-1 lead, then Carolissen picked up four legs in a row.

Wachiuri then came back from 5-3 to 5-5, after which both players held their own leg twice, necessitating a deciding leg. Halfway through the last leg decider Wachiuri took a lead, but Carolissen roared back with a 180 score. From 61 the South African was able to dock to win the match, but he missed a matchdart. Then, from 154, Wachiuri had a chance to become the first Kenyan darter ever to qualify for the World Darts Championship. Wachiuri threw his first two darts into the treble 20, but missed the double 17 by the width of the wire. Carolissen then took advantage of his third matchdart to secure his World Darts Championship placement.

Cameron Carolissen (85.03) 8 | 7 (85.96) Peter Wachiuri

Cameron Carolissen (80.50) 7 | 5 (76.98) Nathan Njeru

Peter Wachiuri (87.11) 7 | 5 (82.06) Ocheng Patrick

Cameron Carolissen (77.74) 6 | 0 (61.39) Francis Waithaka

Nathan Njeru (72.15) 6 | 5 (70.69) Evans Njuguna

Ocheng Patrick (72.23) 6 | 1 (71.35) Felix Mwaura

Peter Wachiuri (76.27) 6 | 5 (74.93) Carl Gabriel

Cameron Carolissen (75.90) 5 | 2 (68.36) Manpreet Kalsi

Francis Waithaka (68.94) 5 | 2 (67.22) Florestine Anthony

Evans Njuguna (71.52) 5 | 3 (64.48) Jefferson Muriithi

Nathan Njeru (69.70) 5 | 4 (65.85) Samwel Waithaka

Ocheng Patrick (76.91) 5 | 4 (72.15) Samuel Gathura

Felix Mwaura (62.28) 5 | 2 (55.95) Moses Wachira

Carl Gabriel (71.02) 5 | 3 (62.25) Sam Thuita

Peter Wachiuri (82.39) 5 | 1 (72.20) Jacob Njuguna

Cameron Carolissen (80.16) 4 | 1 (67.42) Benson Ngari

Manpreet Kalsi (59.70) 4 | 3 (59.28) Mwangi Wageni

Francis Waithaka (69.63) 4 | 2 (67.55) Charles Njuguna

Florestine Anthony (74.97) 4 | 2 (75.75) Leonard Kiwiri

Jefferson Muriithi (69.43) 4 | 3 (74.44) Okidi Jacob

Evans Njuguna (68.32) 4 | 0 (62.07) Charles Munene

Nathan Njeru (62.80) 4 | 2 (58.32) Newton Mutunga

Samwel Waithaka (62.09) 4 | 2 (60.62) Daniel Ndege

Samuel Gathura (63.39) 4 | 2 (60.32) Michael Mbugua

Ocheng Patrick (74.68) 4 | 3 (75.61) Peter Wanjii

Felix Mwaura (67.43) 4 | 3 (68.63) Wilson Kaimenyi

Moses Wachira (62.63) 4 | 0 (53.68) Jaco Thuynsma

Carl Gabriel (70.73) 4 | 0 (47.29) Kinyanjui Symon Kariuki

Sam Thuita (69.03) 4 | 1 (59.10) Wycliffe Akuyo

Peter Wachiuri (74.07) 4 | 3 (74.36) David Munyua

Jacob Njuguna (62.03) 4 | 2 (60.75) Patrick Murigu

Cameron Carolissen (80.16) 4 | 0 (54.00) Antony Ngigi

Benson Ngari (72.90) 4 | 1 (62.68) Joseph Gitahi

Manpreet Kalsi (62.36) 4 | 3 (62.85) Tarasisio Nganga Muchiri

Mwangi Wageni () W | F () Isaac Njoroge

Francis Waithaka (64.93) 4 | 3 (66.95) Peter Kangethe

Florestine Anthony (69.64) 4 | 3 (72.11) David Gaitho

Leonard Kiwiri (69.91) 4 | 0 (63.36) James Ndichu

Jefferson Muriithi (54.43) 4 | 3 (58.68) Devon Petersen

Okidi Jacob (66.07) 4 | 0 (52.10) Agnes Musyoka

Evans Njuguna (84.68) 4 | 0 (44.78) Faiz Rajan

Charles Munene (66.80) 4 | 0 (54.64) Daniel Karori

Nathan Njeru (66.64) 4 | 2 (59.62) John Munyui

Newton Mutunga (57.51) 4 | 1 (49.17) Duncan Mungai Marigi

Daniel Ndege (64.56) 4 | 3 (64.69) Michael Muriithi

Samwel Waithaka (67.87) 4 | 2 (67.97) Jeremiah Nyaga

Samuel Gathura (71.45) 4 | 2 (62.77) Kipngetich Ngeno

Michael Mbugua (60.86) 4 | 3 (58.79) Gurkamal Singh

Peter Wanjii (84.68) 4 | 0 (53.36) Dan Minjire Maina

Ocheng Patrick (77.87) 4 | 2 (73.49) Dheko Modekai

Wilson Kaimenyi (69.12) 4 | 2 (67.21) Komakech David

Felix Mwaura (63.58) 4 | 3 (60.49) Wycliffe Omariba

Jaco Thuynsma (52.65) 4 | 3 (54.08) Peter Muhia

Moses Wachira (65.45) 4 | 1 (55.22) Liwan Jacob James

Carl Gabriel (65.35) 4 | 0 (35.47) Derek Pema

Kinyanjui Symon Kariuki (53.84) 4 | 1 (54.12) Mustafa Gulamabbas

Sam Thuita (64.79) 4 | 3 (62.88) Mugo Elias

Wycliffe Akuyo (45.55) 4 | 0 (40.95) Daisy Kipyator

David Munyua (71.02) 4 | 2 (71.55) Geoffrey Kahuria

Peter Wachiuri (77.69) 4 | 2 (62.84) Harmeet Khalsa

Jacob Njuguna (75.31) 4 | 1 (69.75) Felix Kirwa

Patrick Murigu (56.53) 4 | 1 (51.46) Jackson Achichi

Antony Ngigi (48.10) 4 | 1 (42.95) Tony Kimani

Joseph Gitahi (68.32) 4 | 0 (52.52) Gerald Wanjau

Benson Ngari (66.80) 4 | 0 (49.41) Peter Njenga

Tarasisio Nganga Muchiri (70.73) 4 | 0 (44.86) Mohammed Maloo

Mwangi Wageni () 4 | 0 () Pascalina Ngovu

Peter Gathiru () F | F () Patrick Anguti

Peter Kangethe (69.19) 4 | 3 (78.35) Francis Mulonzi

Francis Waithaka (59.52) 4 | 0 (33.06) Khajida Mustafi

Florestine Anthony () W | F () Dr.Shaban Mwiru

Leonard Kiwiri (52.74) 4 | 0 (45.69) Karan Pandya

James Ndichu (68.32) 4 | 0 (55.11) Amrat Khalsa

Jefferson Muriithi (56.72) 4 | 0 (38.83) Ndwiga James

Agnes Musyoka () W | F () Akena Richard

Okidi Jacob (67.55) 4 | 0 (54.71) Pauline Dias

Faiz Rajan (40.45) 4 | 3 (39.66) Njeru Lawrence Muriithi

Charles Munene (63.30) 4 | 2 (55.89) John Kipchumba

John Munyui (59.08) 4 | 1 (45.46) Mary Njenga

Newton Mutunga (60.97) 4 | 3 (59.45) Edwin Mwaura Kinyanjui

Duncan Mungai Marigi () W | F () Edrine Ssevume

Daniel Ndege (54.65) 4 | 0 (48.72) John Cardovillis

Jeremiah Nyaga (62.28) 4 | 1 (62.41) Ndungu Nephat Muhinja

Kipngetich Ngeno (64.65) 4 | 0 (30.13) Mukesh Kesaria

Gurkamal Singh (44.35) 4 | 2 (36.99) Martin Muchiri

Michael Mbugua (65.82) 4 | 3 (66.50) Sammy Njamba

Dan Minjire Maina () W | F () Agnes Jerotich

Ocheng Patrick (84.55) 4 | 1 (71.30) Symon Kinyanjui

Komakech David (74.64) 4 | 2 (65.08) Juma Said

Wycliffe Omariba (68.89) 4 | 1 (63.20) Umesh Dadhaniya

Felix Mwaura () W | F () George Komu Kungu

Peter Muhia () W | F () Kennedy Matheka

Liwan Jacob James () W | F () Peter Kihenjo

Derek Pema () W | F () Rivaldo Dissie

Mustafa Gulamabbas (66.80) 4 | 0 (54.93) Peter Ndogo

Kinyanjui Symon Kariuki (48.10) 4 | 1 (42.95) Setu Dadhaniya

Mugo Elias (55.16) 4 | 0 (33.34) Emmanuel Musambayi

Wycliffe Akuyo (46.60) 4 | 0 (37.98) Mikey Dias

David Munyua (71.79) 4 | 1 (67.28) Ronald Kiptoo

Harmeet Khalsa (44.82) 4 | 1 (41.51) David Kaguku

Peter Wachiuri (64.65) 4 | 0 (52.19) Kipngetich Ngeno

Jacob Njuguna (79.11) 4 | 0 (62.67) Josphat Maina

Patrick Murigu (55.36) 4 | 2 (50.79) Milicent Wanjohi