This award was fittingly handed to David Munyua, whose extraordinary comeback at Alexandra Palace will live long in the collective memory of the sport. It was not simply the result that captured imaginations, but the manner in which it unfolded – a dramatic, almost cinematic reversal of fortunes that defied logic, expectation, and darts probability in equal measure.
Facing 2024 World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker, the 30-year old found himself staring down the barrel at 2-0 down in a race to three sets. At that point, the script appeared already written. The Belgian number one, armed with pedigree and experience, seemed poised to close out the contest with professional efficiency. Few, if any, gave the Kenyan outsider a realistic pathway back into the match. Perhaps not even David himself.
David Munyua Reacts To His Shock of The Year
Yet, what followed was a masterclass in resilience and belief. Munyua refused to fold, instead digging deep into reserves of mental fortitude that elevated his performance with each passing leg. His scoring sharpened, his finishing grew bolder, and slowly but surely, the tide began to turn.
The once inevitable outcome dissolved into uncertainty, and then into disbelief, as the man nicknamed Why Not? completed a comeback of staggering proportions, perfectly justifying his moniker.
When the final tungsten missile landed, and the upset was confirmed, African darts had a new hero. It was more than just a victory – it was a statement.
A moment that transcended rankings and reputations, reminding everyone that on any given night, under the right conditions, darts can produce theatre of the highest order. This was not just a shock; it was sporting drama at its most intoxicating.
Introducing The DartsWorld Awards 2025/26
DartsWorld has a half century worth of championing darts, its players, its achievements, and its progress across the globe. For a chunk of that time we have considered some slightly more formal acknowledgments in the vein of some annual awards.
In the end, talking about a project on the sidelines can go on forever without ever progressing unless an initial effort is made there is nothing to hone into a truly useful and celebratory tradition.
Our inaugural awards showcase nine awards that cover a wide spectrum of darting endeavours from the 2025/26 season that ended with the crowning of a new World Champion in January.
FULL DETAILS WITH DARTSDATABASE: The 2025/26 season’s events in facts and stats
From the professional to the amateur, and from elite performance to charitable efforts we try to live up to our name.
In making our selection we do not lay claim to an open and democratic process, at least for the first outing. Instead we have asked those directly connected with DartsWorld. Players, writers, analysts and business leaders have chipped in nominations, award categories and eventual winners.
There are a few self imposed rules, but, somewhat like the pirates code, they are more a set of guidelines. The most important to explain any apparent outrage is that no player will get more than one award each year.
DARTS PLAYER MERCHANDISE AND COLLECTABLES AT OUR DARTSWORLD STORE!
We hope to develop the DW awards over time, they will be released earlier in each new year and may be part of an occasion, event or special issue – in the meantime we hope you enjoy the DartsWorld Awards 2025/26.
Watch closely on social media channels and here at the mothership dartsworld.com for the unveiling of the 9 inaugural winners . If you can’t wait then simply grab yourself a copy of February’s DARTSWORLD 593 and enjoy!
Checkout the new dedicated area for DartsWorld Awards were each years awards and their supporters will be detailed, summarised and stored.
—–ENDS—–
Image: PDC
Graphic: DartsWorld Ltd
