Need to know
Munyua has forced his way into the game’s greatest showpiece and he has a clash against Belgium’s Mike De Decker
David Munyua(Image: Sirua Darts)
David Munyua is the Kenyan star ready to make history at the Paddy Power World Championship.
The 30-year-old will become the first man from his country to appear in darts’ biggest event when he hits the Ally Pally stage.
Munyua will face Belgian ace Mike De Decker in the first-round on Thursday night to fulfil a lifelong ambition as he competes alongside the likes of Luke Littler and Gary Anderson for the £1 million prize.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Kenyan ahead of his game with De Decker.
- Munyua secured his place at the Ally Pally by winning the African Darts Group Championship qualifier in September where he beat Cameron Carolissen 8-6 in the Final.
- The 30-year-old has a full-time job and works as a veterinarian in his homeland
- Munyua’s darts nickname is ‘Why Not’ and it is a phrase that has inspired him to create history for his country by being in London for the event
- The Kenyan star missed a chance to make it a year ago when he lost in the last 32 of the ADG qualifiers to Peter Wachiuri
- Munyua has revealed that he has never been out of Africa before ahead of his travel to the UK and his appearance at the Worlds.
The Kenyan is excited for the outing and said: “I’ve been waiting for this chance. It’s a dream come true. To be going to the Ally Pally is amazing. Darts in Kenya is very different to the UK. It’s not a high profile game. It’s a big struggle to access good boards and lights, but we are trying as much as we can to improve ourselves.
“I think it’s going to be different now for the next generation of players from Kenya. We have good players here and for the next couple of years I predict we will see qualifiers from Kenya again.
“Last year was the first time the ADG World Championship qualifier was in Kenya. The experience was amazing and there was a lot of hype around it after Peter got to the final. Since the qualifier last year, I knew I had to improve and get serious. I was encouraged by Peter and seeing him perform.
“I’ve been practicing more and going to eastern [African] countries like Uganda to participate in tournaments. I have never missed any tournament in the last three years. I have always been competing to get the exposure and the experience I need,
“I’m grateful to be the first Kenyan to qualify for the World Championship. I cannot find a good word for what I felt like before the qualifier. I have never felt like that before.
“I hope when I get to that stage, I can have a good game. There’s a lot of pressure, waking up every morning knowing you’re going against the world’s best. But you have to handle that pressure. I just need to do whatever it takes to give my best.
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