David Munyua created history by becoming the first Kenyan to win at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship on Thursday, stunning Mike De Decker in his 3-2 comeback victory.
Munyua had already created darting history by becoming the first representative from Kenya at Alexandra Palace, but went a step further with a momentous triumph against former World Grand Prix champion De Decker.
The 30-year-old had trailed 2-0, but survived three match darts from the Belgian number one in the fourth set before holding his nerve to level the game at 2-2.
Munyua, who qualified through the African Darts Group Qualifier, then took out a clutch 135 checkout on the bull in the final set, before reeling off two more legs to win and cement himself into Alexandra Palace folklore.
“This is a really big moment for the sport itself and for Africa,” announced Munyua, who will face either Kevin Doets or Matthew Dennant in round two.
“That was crazy, it’s too much to express right now. I did not expect it, but I’m so excited to have won.
“Being the first Kenyan to play at the World Championship, I’ve never been in this kind of a venue before with the noise and the pressure.
“Everyone back in my country is going crazy about it. It is a special feeling for me and players back in my country.”
Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen survived a huge scare against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, coming out a 3-1 winner despite falling behind by a set and two legs to nil at one stage.
The three-time World Champion rallied and won nine of the remaining 12 legs to edge through, surviving nine set darts from Tatsunami in the fourth and final set.
“It wasn’t the best performance, but at least I won,” said Van Gerwen, who plays Krzysztof Kciuk or William O’Connor in round two.
“The most important thing in round one of the World Championship is to survive and win.
"Everyone was thinking 'Michael will whitewash him 3-0', that's not how it works anymore.
“I shouldn't put myself in that position. I'm bigger than that, but that's darts.”
Motomu Sakai also created an Alexandra Palace legacy on his debut as he stunned Thibault Tricole 3-0 with an enigmatic performance to set up a round two clash with Andreas Harrysson.
The Japanese trailblazer took out a whopping 148 checkout before winning the second set and took the final stanza in straight legs to secure a memorable victory.
“I just feel very happy,” said Sakai, who won four PDC Asian Tour titles in 2025.
“The more I dance, the more my darts fly well!
“I could hear all the support from behind me, it was giving me a lot of power - thank you very much.”
Dave Chisnall hit 47% of his double attempts to power past Fallon Sherrock 3-0 and will face Ricardo Pietrezcko in round two.
Chisnall, a former semi-finalist at Alexandra Palace, dropped one leg in racing to a 2-0 lead, before punishing missed opportunities from Sherrock in set three to complete a straight-sets win.
Jermaine Wattimena battled through a tough affair against Dominik Gruellich to win 3-2 and set up a round two clash with former semi-finalist Scott Williams.
The Dutchman had trailed 2-1, but dug deep, rattling off six legs on the spin to see out the final two sets and complete the comeback.
Ryan Joyce eased past Owen Bates in a straight-sets victory, restricting his opponent to just a sole leg across the match.
Joyce averaged over a ton in the opening two sets and finished the match with a trademark exemplary performance on the outer-ring, hitting 64% of his doubles, to earn a round two tie against Krzysztof Ratajski.
Ratajski himself progressed thanks to a 3-0 demolition job over Alexis Toylo, winning nine of the 11 legs on offer in the match.
The Polish number one averaged over 97 and hit 50% of his double attempts during his standout performance of Thursday evening, which featured a spectacular 170 checkout.
Elsewhere, Callan Rydz swept aside Patrik Kovacs with a whitewash win to ensure his progression to round two.
A two-time quarter-finalist at Alexandra Palace, Rydz took out a double-double 92 checkout early on in the final set before sealing the match with a 14-dart break, and will play Friday’s winner of Daryl Gurney against Beau Greaves.
Round one will conclude on Friday, with the last 16 players to compete battling it out across a bumper double-session, with World Cup winner Josh Rock stealing the headlines in the afternoon session as he faces Gemma Hayter.
Rock’s Northern Irish World Cup winning partner Gurney clashes with Women’s Series winner Greaves in a tantalising match, as former World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall locks horns with Lourence Ilagan.
The 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers)
2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship
Thursday December 18
Afternoon Session
Round One x4
Callan Rydz 3-0 Patrik Kovacs (3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
Motomu Sakai 3-0 Thibault Tricole (3-2, 3-2, 3-0)
Ryan Joyce 3-0 Owen Bates (3-0, 3-1, 3-0)
David Munyua 3-2 Mike De Decker (1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1)
Evening Session
Round One x4
Jermaine Wattimena 3-2 Dominik Gruellich (3-1, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0)
Dave Chisnall 3-0 Fallon Sherrock (3-1, 3-0, 3-2)
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Mitsuhiko Tatsunami (1-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
Krzysztof Ratajski 3-0 Alexis Toylo (3-0, 3-1, 3-1)
Friday December 19
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Kevin Doets v Matthew Dennant
Ryan Meikle v Jesus Salate
Mickey Mansell v Leonard Gates
Josh Rock v Gemma Hayter
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
William O’Connor v Krzysztof Kciuk
Daryl Gurney v Beau Greaves
Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
Keane Barry v Tim Pusey
Best of Five Sets