David Munyua makes history at the World Darts Championship as Van Gerwen survives Tatsunami scare

David Munyua made history with an astonishing comeback win over Mike De Decker on his World Darts Championship debut on Thursday.

Munyua had already broken new ground by becoming the first Kenyan player to feature in the PDC World Championship, but went a step further with a momentous triumph against former World Grand Prix champion De Decker.

The 30-year-old found himself two sets down, but survived three match darts from the Belgian number one in the fourth set before holding his nerve to force a decider.

Munyua, who qualified through the African Darts Group Qualifier, then produced a clutch 135 checkout on the bull in the final set, before reeling off two more legs to seal a sensational win and etch his name into Ally Pally folklore.

“This is a really big moment for the sport itself and for Africa,” admitted 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.”

Meanwhile, Michael van Gerwen survived a huge scare against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, battling his way to a 3-1 victory despite trailing 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.

“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 in straight sets with a captivating performance.

The Japanese newcomer landed a terrific 148 checkout before claiming the second set and took the final set in three straight legs to secure a dominant 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 converted almost 50 per cent of his double attempts to power past a profligate Fallon Sherrock in straight sets.

Chisnall, a former semi-finalist at Alexandra Palace, dropped one leg in racing to a 2-0 lead, before punishing a plethora of missed opportunities from Sherrock in set three to complete a straight-sets success.

Jermaine Wattimena battled through a hard-fought encounter Dominik Gruellich to prevail in a last-set decider.

The Dutchman had trailed 2-1, but dug deep to rattling off six legs on the spin and complete the comeback to avert an early exit.

Ryan Joyce eased past debutant Owen Bates with a commanding straight-sets victory, restricting his opponent to just a solitary 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 per cent of his doubles, to earn a round two tie against Krzysztof Ratajski.

Ratajski himself progressed thanks to a straight sets demolition job over Alexis Toylo, winning nine of the 11 legs on offer in the match.

The Polish number one averaged over 97 and pinned 50 per cent of his double attempts during his standout performance of Thursday evening, which featured a spectacular 170 checkout.

Two-time quarter-finalist Callan Rydz swept aside Hungary’s Patrik Kovacs in three sets to safely ensure his progression to round two.

Rydz converted a double-double 92 checkout early on in the final set before sealing the match with a 14-dart break, and will face either Daryl Gurney or Beau Greaves in the Last 64.

World Darts Championship 2025/26 Day Nine Results

Thursday December 18

First Round

Afternoon Session
Callan Rydz 3-0 Patrik Kovacs
Thibault Tricole 0-3 Motomu Sakai
Ryan Joyce 3-0 Owen Bates
Mike De Decker 2-3 David Munyua

Evening Session
Jermaine Wattimena 3-2 Dominik Gruellich
Dave Chisnall 3-0 Fallon Sherrock
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
Krzysztof Ratajski 3-0 Alexis Toylo