In one of the most remarkable upsets in World Darts Championship history, debutant David Munyua from Kenya defeated 18th seed Mike De Decker, with an unlikely insect accomplice playing a supporting role. The full-time veterinarian staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on Thursday night at Alexandra Palace.
The Unlikely Ally on Stage
The match took a bizarre turn when the now-infamous Ally Pally wasp landed on Munyua's face mid-contest. In a moment that captivated the crowd, the Kenyan calmly swatted the insect away and then made a concerted attempt to capture it and place it in his pocket.
"I got it. I tried to put it in my pocket to stay with me because I love going through tough things," Munyua explained after his historic win. He intended to keep the wasp as a companion for the remainder of the tournament, regardless of the match outcome. Unfortunately for Munyua, his new-found mascot managed to escape.
He showed remarkable pragmatism about the interruption, stating, "I've seen how it's been interfering with other players. At this place you need maximum concentration, so when you have a little disturbance, you need to get over it." His strategy was simple: befriend the pest and neutralise the threat.
A Vet's Double Life
It is perhaps no surprise that Munyua sought a peaceful resolution with the creature, given his profession. He works as a full-time veterinarian in Nairobi, juggling his passion for animal care with his darts career.
"Being a veterinarian in my country and also a darts player, there's so many challenges you need to face to combine the both," he admitted. His daily routine is a demanding balance: "During the day I'm dealing with my animals, but at the night I'm playing darts. I'm on call a lot of the time, so I can be throwing darts and then get a call."
The Wasp's Tournament of Mischief
The Ally Pally wasp has emerged as an unexpected star of this year's championship, proving a persistent nuisance for competitors. Its survival instincts were tested when it was struck by a dart from Nitin Kumar during his victory over Richard Veenstra. Martin Lukeman also fell victim, appearing to be stung during his match on Monday evening.
The insect's notoriety prompted Dutch player Jurjen van der Velde to take pre-emptive action. Before his match with Danny Noppert, Van der Velde arrived on stage with a can of insect spray, theatrically spraying the aerosol around his playing area in a bid to deter the winged intruder.
Despite these efforts, the wasp, much like David Munyua, lived to fight another day. It was later spotted causing further disruption during the evening session, landing on the shirt of Dave Chisnall. Munyua's incredible victory, aided by his calm handling of the unusual distraction, will be remembered as one of the tournament's greatest shocks, proving that sometimes, help can come from the most unexpected places.
