PDC World Darts Championship Round-up | Kenya's David Munyua produces enormous upset as he recovers from two-set deficit to knock out Mike De Decker in thriller

David Munyua produced one of the biggest upsets in the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship as he became the first Kenyan to win on the Ally Pally stage. He came from two sets down to defeat former major champion Mike De Decker 3-2.

De Decker was the faster out of the blocks, as he took out 106 on double 18 to break the throw. He backed this up with a 17-darter with a few missed doubles. Munyua showed his class with a brilliant 87 finish on the bull as he showed his intentions. He had a chance to draw level in the first set but was unable to find double seven. The Belgian managed to clinch the first leg despite the Kenyan averaging over 96.

Into the second set, and De Decker’s level fell off a cliff. Munyua quickly reacted to this, going 2-0 ahead. He had the chance to make it a clean sweep for the set and a level game but squandered three at tops. The Real Deal was not finding it easy on the oche. He missed eight darts around the board before eventually clinching the leg on double one. De Decker followed this with a break before a 14-darter recovered what seemed like an awkward situation into a 2-0 lead.

It was deja-vu in the third set as Munyua raced into a 2-0 lead. He found himself in a golden position to get his and Kenya’s first set in the World Championship. However, five darts were missed at tops and double 10. De Decker, who was languishing far behind, caught up and pinned tops. He found the same target with no issue to hold. A second consecutive deciding leg would be played. Munyua had a miscount when trying to take out 135. Instead, he took 125 out of that score after finding 25 and two bulls. He came back and found double five for a first set.

He continued this momentum as he found six perfect darts. Unfortunately, it went no further. Even more unfortunately, Munyua pinned double 16 when he was supposed to go for tops. De Decker nailed double 16, but that was his intended target. Munyua would make up for it by punishing sloppy darts by the Belgian to win the next two legs and go 2-1 in front. He was on 88 for the set, but De Decker took out 130 on the bull with great composure. It was a dramatic end to the fourth set. De Decker missed a match dart at tops before Munyua busted 38. De Decker then busted 40, allowing Munyua to return to clinch the set and force a deciding fifth set.

De Decker went seven into the perfect leg before finishing it in 11 for a break. Munyua would then break straight back with an incredible 135 checkout, this time not miscounting as he finished on the bull for a crowd-pleasing finish. De Decker would then spurn four darts at double 14, as Munyua found double 10 to move within one of the match. On the Belgian's throw, Munyua accelerated away, missing his first match dart for a 105 outshout before getting over the line on tops. It is more disappointment for Belguim, whose torrid World Championship continue. For Munyuna, he progresses into round two after an astonishing performance.

Motomu Sakai was a very popular man at Ally Pally, producing a very commendable performance to defeat Thibault Tricole 3-0. It was evident that Sakai was a crowd favourite from the start. Tricole was firmly the villain in the tie, but he did go ahead after doubles were missed by Sakai. The Japanese darter was relishing his debut at Ally Pally. He levelled up before taking out 121 on the bull to break. He should have taken the set but missed three darts at tops. Tricole pinned double 10 to force a decider but it would prove to be Sakai with the goods to get over the line.

He continued in the rich vein of form on the oche, going ahead in the second set before taking out a showstopping 148 checkout on double 14 to break. The French Touch responded by back-to-back legs on double 18 to force another decider. He left himself tops, but Sakai prevented him from going for it as he took out 86 in two to double his advantage.

Sakai was closing in on victory after he broke the throw with a 14-darter – his best leg of the match. Tricole misses a number of chances in the last two legs to stay in the match, including two in the final leg. Sakai found his sixth match dart on double five for a very popular victory. He has firmly cemented himself as a cult-hero for many of the fans, who will be excited to see him in the second round against Andreas Harrysson.

Ryan Joyce produced a masterclass in finishing to defeat Owen Bates 3-0 with ease. Joyce almost kicked off proceedings with a 170 but had to finish on his favourite double 16. In true Joyce fashion, he did not miss a double for the rest of the set. Double 18 was pinned for a 73 outshot before an 11-darter on double eight firmly put Relentless in command.

The Geordie continued his imperious form. After Bates got his first leg, Joyce replies with a brace of 14-darters. The second one breaks the Bates throw. Joyce was cruising at this point. He sealed the set after a 177 left double six, which he found with no qualm. He was averaging over a ton and boasted a 60% checkout leg.

His level did drop in the third set, but it still proved too good for Bates. He began with a 101 checkout on double 12 before capitalising on missed doubles from bates to double his lead. The match was wrapped up without a fuss from Joyce, taking out 85 in two for a very clinical performance.

Callan Rydz has enjoyed previous deep runs in the World Darts Championship and kicked off his 2026 campaign with a 3-0 win over debutant Patrik Kovacs. Rydz got off the board first, but Kovacs showed what skill he had. A 12-darter on double 16 got him level but Rydz would not allow him another chance. Two missed bull attempts for 130 and 167 checkouts were comfortably cleaned up, with The Riot taking the first set in commanding fashion.

The breaks of throw would continue. After the Englishman looked like he had full control of the matchup, Kovacs managed to break straight back with a 15-darter. However, the two-time quarter-finalist was able to regain his advantage before doubling trouble from both players saw Rydz eventually wrap up the second set in the madhouse.

Kovacs managed to get ahead in the third set with a crucial break. Rydz, who had been struggling on the outer ring, pinned double 18 twice to break back before comfortably seeing out the match. Kovacs gave a good account of himself, but Rydz proved to be good enough to advance. He will face either Daryl Gurney or Beau Greaves in the next round.