UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Kenyan debutant David Munyua rallies from two sets down to defeat world number 18 Mike de Decker, causing a major shock at PDC World Championship.
Even though Munyua had performed admirably in his debut at Alexandra Palace, an upset appeared improbable when the Belgian came within one set of winning.
Munyua, a veterinarian, missed darts to win the second set, did the same in the third but ultimately prevailed, won the fourth, and rallied to win the match in the fifth.
After being broken in the first leg of the decider, the 30-year-old, who qualified through the African Darts Group Qualifier, produced an incredible outside bull-treble 20-bullseye 135 finish to tie the score before maintaining composure to win.
Munyua called his palm” amazing” and hailed it as a” veritably big moment for the sport, for Africa and for Kenya” in an on- stage interview following the game.
The loss added to De Decker’s dismal World Championship record; in six appearances at Alexandra Palace, the 2024 World Grand Prix winner hadn’t advanced past the round of 64.
Former BDO world champion Mark Webster said on Sky Sports:
“This is what the World Championship is all about. Forget about the stats in terms of big averages – it had drama all the way through.
David put in a big performance. It just backs up that we’re going global with this sport.”
Earlier in the afternoon session, another rookie, Motomu Sakai of Japan, appeared to have taken center stage after defeating Frenchman Thibault Tricole in straight sets.
Sakai was a showman who played up to the fans throughout his match and won over the Alexandra Palace crowd with a lengthy, joyous walk-on.
In other places, world number 24 Ryan Joyce defeated fellow Englishman Owen Bates with a calm performance, averaging 95.27 and hitting nine of his fourteen double attempts.
The other winner on Thursday was world number 42 Callan Rydz, who easily defeated Patrik Kovacs of Hungary 3-0, dropping just three legs.
In the evening session, three-time champion Michael van Gerwen starts his tournament against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, while Fallon Sherrock, who became the first woman to win a match at a PDC World Championship in December 2019, faces 2021 semifinalist Dave Chisnall.
How did this result change Munyua’s PDC Order of Merit position?
David Munyua’s palm over Mike de Decker earned him £15,000 in first-round prize money at the 2025/26 PDC World Darts Championship, propelling him from unranked (no previous Order of Merit points) to tied 115th position live during the event.
Palm added 100 of his ranking aggregate from the World Championship (£15k), with live Order of Merit tables showing him alongside other alternate-round qualifiers at this position, ahead of further progression thresholds like £25k for top 100.
Further advancement( e.g., alternate round £10k) could push him into the 90- 100 range by event end on January 3, 2026, securing a Pro Tour card and marking a dramatic debut vault for the Kenyan.