"Everybody was asking ‘who is this, What is this dart game?’ also my president was commenting": The game that changed David Munyua's life

David Munyua likely delivered the biggest shock of the opening round at the 2026 World Darts Championship. “Why Not” became the first-ever Kenyan to step onto the sport’s biggest stage and marked his debut with a stunning upset: a 3-2 victory over 18th seed Mike De Decker, the former World Grand Prix champion.

The 30-year-old Munyua had already defied all expectations by qualifying for the Worlds a few months earlier. In September, he won the African Darts Group (ADG) Qualifier by beating top favorite Cameron Carolissen from South Africa 8-6 in the final. In doing so, he made history as the first Kenyan to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship.

His Worlds appearance not only earned Munyua a place in the 128-player field at Alexandra Palace, but also his first-ever trip outside Africa. As if that weren’t enough, he made a bold decision right before his match against De Decker: two days before his first-round tie, he switched darts. During a visit to a London darts shop, he traded his worn set for brand-new Mission Cam Crabtree darts.

“In Kenya we don’t have quality darts shops where you can change your darts,” Munyua told the Weekly Dartscast. “I had the privilege to buy a set of darts, but they didn’t have the grip that I like.

“So I decided to change the darts two days before the tournament (my first-round match against De Decker). I found a very kind shop-keeper and they didn’t know me. We were with my friend Peter Wachuiri. They knew Peter. They sell his darts.

“I told them I’ll be playing at Ally Pally and we chose some darts and they were kind enough to give me those darts, and a board, and a stand. They helped me a lot, so I could practice in my room. That shop, Darts GB, I owe them. They did amazing for me.

In his match against De Decker, the odds of a shock seemed minimal. The Belgian had a quieter 2025 compared to his standout 2024, when he won the World Grand Prix, but he was still seen as the logical favorite on the biggest stage. The Kenyan saw it differently. After falling 2-0 behind, he reeled off three straight sets to deliver one of the year’s biggest surprises for darts fans worldwide.

“Winning against Mike De Decker was crazy,” Munyua said. “It was a big thing for me. He’s a very experienced player and I was the underdog and it was my first time. I’d never been there before, so winning even a set was a big deal. But I was confident enough. I still believed in how I throw my darts and my ability of hitting what I want to hit when I want to. I was privileged to be a fan favourite that day and that really helped me to come back. It helped me to have more energy and to still believe it is possible.”

The impact of his win went far beyond Alexandra Palace. Headlines appeared around the world, and less than a week later the PDC announced that Africa will receive an extra World Championship spot from 2026/27: two places instead of one. The ADG will also expand the African Continental Tour in 2026 to six events, split between a northern and southern region. In addition, Africa will now have a second World Cup of Darts berth alongside South Africa.

Back in Kenya, Munyua’s upset hit like a bomb. “In my country everything went crazy,” Munyua reflected. “Everybody was asking ‘who is this David Munyua? What is this dart game?’ Also my president was commenting and every senior citizen was posting my pictures.

“My name has been trending in my country. I can’t go onto the street without people recognising me. Most of the time I’m in my cape and I can manoeuvre around, but not from everyone. ‘Oh, that’s the dart guy!’ It’s encouraging for me. I still have a game to play and it makes me feel like I need to put more effort in, because I have to represent everyone.

“Sponsorship was very difficult to find before, but now in Kenya the notion has changed. It’s not like it used to be. People want to be a part of it and that’s a good thing. If I get the opportunity to go to Europe or any other continent (to play darts) I would really appreciate it. The more exposure I can get I’m sure it will help me get better and better, the more I participate in this game.”