Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Darts, World Darts Championship
Jack Kenmare
David Munyua pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Championship history, just days after switching his darts at a shop in London.
The 30-year-old, who also works as a full-time veterinarian, became the first Kenyan player to compete in the annual tournament when he beat overwhelming favourite Mike De Decker on December 18.
Munyua had never left Africa ahead of his Ally Pally debut. "I’ve never experienced temperatures like this," he told Darts News before his win over De Decker. "I can tell you: it was a very long flight."
Remarkably, Munyua only started playing darts three years ago, when his friend introduced him to the sport.
Advert
"I used to play mostly pool," he said. "One day, I was having a beer with a friend, and he told me he used to play darts. He showed me how it worked. I threw my first darts and thought, ‘Wow, this is fun.’"
Munyua added: "I immediately went to buy a board. A bit later that friend suggested entering small tournaments. ‘Why not?’ I made a lot of new friends there. It actually wasn’t about the PDC for me, but about the sportsmanship and the friendship. I loved that.”
Unfortunately for Munyua and his legion of supporters, the much-loved Kenyan failed to progress in the tournament after falling to a second-round defeat against Kevin Doets.
However, his achievement on the biggest stage in darts has well and truly changed his life. Speaking to the Weekly Dartscast this week, Munyua opened up on his World Championship journey.
“In Kenya we don’t have quality darts shops where you can change your darts,” Munyua said. “I had the privilege to buy a set of darts, but they didn’t have the grip that I like.
“So I decided to change the darts two days before the tournament. I found a very kind shop-keeper and they didn’t know me. We were with my friend Peter Wachuiri. They knew Peter. They sell his darts.
“I told them I’ll be playing at Ally Pally and we chose some darts and they were kind enough to give me those darts, and a board, and a stand. They helped me a lot, so I could practice in my room. That shop, Darts GB, I owe them. They did amazing for me.
“That kind of generosity... I didn’t just take it for granted. I was just appearing in their shop for the first time and they were kind enough to give me the equipment I needed. That was very nice for me.”
As a result of his success, Munyua says "everything went crazy" in his country.
“In my country everything went crazy,” he said. “Everybody was asking ‘who is this David Munyua? What is this dart game?’ Also my president was commenting and every senior citizen was posting my pictures.
“My name has been trending in my country. I can’t go onto the street without people recognising me. Most of the time I’m in my cape and I can manoeuvre around, but not from everyone. ‘Oh, that’s the dart guy!’ It’s encouraging for me.
"I still have a game to play and it makes me feel like I need to put more effort in, because I have to represent everyone.
“Sponsorship was very difficult to find before, but now in Kenya the notion has changed. It’s not like it used to be. People want to be a part of it and that’s a good thing. If I get the opportunity to go to Europe or any other continent (to play darts) I would really appreciate it.
"The more exposure I can get I’m sure it will help me get better and better, the more I participate in this game.”