Defending champion Luke Littler has publicly applauded David Munyua's remarkable comeback victory in the first round of the PDC World Darts Championship, sparking speculation of a potential future clash between the two.
Munyua's Ally Pally Triumph Stuns Crowd
In a thrilling encounter at Alexandra Palace on Thursday, Kenyan qualifier David Munyua produced a stunning fightback to defeat world number 18 Mike de Decker 3-2. The full-time veterinary surgeon, who had never left Africa before this tournament, overturned a two-set deficit to seal a dramatic win, sending the Ally Pally crowd into raptures and instantly becoming a fan favourite.
The victory marks one of the standout moments of the championship so far, with Munyua's resilience under pressure capturing the imagination of the darts world. His journey to London was already historic, and his performance has now firmly put African darts talent on the map.
Littler's Social Media Shout-Out
Luke Littler, the teenage sensation and reigning world champion, took to Instagram on Thursday evening. While primarily posting to thank fans for their support ahead of his Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) nomination, he was quick to respond to questions about Munyua's performance.
When asked about the Kenyan's win, the 18-year-old Littler replied enthusiastically: "Class, matey so so good watched it in the Trafford Centre while having dinner." Littler had earlier breezed past Darius Labanauskas 3-0 in his own first-round match and is currently on a winning streak of 14 matches.
Tournament Paths and Future Clash Potential
The draw sets up a fascinating possibility: Littler and Munyua could face each other in a later round. Littler's immediate focus is his second-round match against David Davies, scheduled for Sunday afternoon. This will be his last appearance at the oche before the Christmas break.
Munyua now awaits the winner of the match between Kevin Doets and Matthew Dennant, who play on Friday, to determine his second-round opponent. Before the tournament began, Munyua emphasised that his motivation extended beyond the £1 million prize money. He stated his goal was to showcase African talent and inspire a darts revolution in Kenya, hoping to create a better environment for players back home.
The second round of the World Darts Championship begins this weekend once all first-round matches are concluded, with all eyes now on whether the giant-killing vet from Kenya can continue his fairytale run towards a potential meeting with the defending champion.
