Kenya's Munyua Upsets De Decker 3-2 in World Darts

Kenyan debutant David Munyua delivered one of the biggest upsets in PDC World Darts Championship history on Thursday, overcoming a two-set deficit to defeat world number 18 Mike De Decker 3-2 in the first round at Alexandra Palace in London.

The 30-year-old veterinarian from Nairobi, making his first appearance in the tournament as the inaugural representative from Kenya, captivated a capacity crowd of 3,500 with a thrilling comeback. Munyua, who only took up darts three years ago in a local pub during the COVID-19 pandemic, trailed after De Decker claimed the opening two sets with steady play and an early break. The Belgian, a former World Grand Prix champion, started strongly, averaging comfortably in the first set for a 3-0 victory, while Munyua appeared nervous amid the intense atmosphere.

Momentum shifted in the third set as Munyua found his rhythm. He fired six perfect darts toward a nine-darter before miscounting a finish, opting for 91 instead of the required 99, yet recovered to level the score. In a dramatic turn, left with 135 to win the set, Munyua mistakenly checked out 125 with two bullseyes, leaving 10, which he converted on his next visit to ignite the venue. The...