Players from Africa at the PDC World Championship.
This year saw the first African participant at the PDC World Championship who wasn't from South Africa - Kenyan David Munyua, who advanced to the second round before losing
to Kevin Doets. For Munyua, a veterinarian by profession, who was celebrated by the crowd at Alexandra Palace, it was nonetheless a dream debut and certainly a great boost
for darts in Kenya.
When you think of African darts players at the PDC World Championship, Devon Petersen is undoubtedly the first name that comes to mind. For many years, he was the face of Africa in the PDC, not just at the World Championship.
But he wasn't the first, and by no means the only representative of the sport to compete in the PDC. The very first South African player in a PDC World Championship
actually appeared back in 2007 - not at Alexandra Palace, but at the Circus Tavern, and he was even more successful in his debut there than the Kenyan player this year.
Wynand Havenga - born like so many of the South African participants on the PDC World Championship stage in Cape Town on September 6, 1965 - won the South African Masters in 2006 by this qualifying for the 2007 PDC World Championship. Havenga - nicknamed Springbok - reached the last 16 of the tournament defeating on the way Steve Maish and Peter Manley where he lost to Darren Webster. Due to a shoulder injury, he could no longer play darts and worked as a motorcycle shop manager. The South African pioneer passed away last January.
Havengas match against Darren Webster you can find here: Havenga v Darren Webster
In the next two years - 2008 and 2009 - it was Charles Losper, nicknamed "The Sensation," who qualified for the PDC World Championship. He, too, was born in
Cape Town and a few years younger than Havenga. Losper wasn't as successful in the World Championship, losing in the first round both times. However, Losper
remained active in darts and repeatedly participated in the World Championship qualifiers. In 2022 he actually qualified for a third time, but visa issues and
the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from traveling. Losper, a police officer by profession, also participated in the 2007 Grand Slam of Darts and competed in
WDF tournaments.
Leslie Francis won the 2009 South African Masters, defeating Devon Petersen in the final. Francis was from Gauteng, South Africa, and was born in 1956. His nickname was "Striker." Francis also represented South Africa at the WDF World Cup. In his World Championship debut, he lost in the preliminary round to Irishman Aodhagen O'Neill. He subsequently attempted several times to qualify but without success.
The 2011 PDC World Championship marked the beginning of Devon Petersen's golden era. He also qualified for the World Championship in 2012, 2014, and from 2017 to 2022.
He won the South African Masters in 2010 - defeating Leslie Francis - and 2011. Devon Petersen, the "African Warrior," was also born in Cape Town in 1986.
His walk-on captivated the English darts fans. Petersen didn't only play World Championship - in 2011 he became the first African player to secure a Tour Card.
At the end of 2012 he lost it, but regained it at Qualifying School in 2015 and held it until 2023.
In 2014 he qualified for the World Championship again and from 2017 to 2022 he participated every year - several times as a seeded player. He reached the last 16
three times - in 2014, 2019 and 2021. He also played in many other PDC Majors, including the PDC World Cup several times with different partners.
His greatest success was reaching the semi-finals of the 2020 European Championship. During his time in the PDC, Devon Peters was also occasionally
part of the commentary team.
Here you can see his famous Walk-On
In the years when Petersen did not qualify for the World Championship, Africa was represented by other players from South Africa.
In 2013 it was Charl Pietersen, the "Bionic Man," born in Cape Town on March 10, 1991, who appeared at Alexandra Palace as the winner of the 2012 South
African Masters. He was defeated by Max Hopp in the preliminary round. He then participated in the 2013 Qualifying School, defeating Kevin McDine and
throwing a nine-dart finish and became the second African darts player to earn a Tour Card. He stayed without success on the PDC circuit but builded
Team South Africa together with Shawn Hogan at the 2014 PDC World Cup. The team had match darts against Team England, but Pietersen missed them. He
lost his Tour Card, was defeated in the final of the South African Masters both 2014 and 2015 by Devon Petersen, and nothing has been heard of Pietersen since.
n 2015, Nolan "The Nigel" Arendse-also born in Cape Town, but in 1968-qualified for the World Championship after winning the qualifier against Devon Petersen. Arendse had started playing darts in 1990 but had to take a break after a car accident and a heart attack. His qualification for the World Championship was almost a miracle. Arendse won his first match but then lost to Brendan Dolan. He unsuccessfully attempted to get a Tour Card in Q School in 2015, 2017, and 2018, and also played in a few Challenge Tour events in 2017, but appears to no longer be actively playing darts.
In 2016, Warrick Scheffer, who was born in Durban but lives in Cape Town, was the South African qualifier. Scheffer lost his preliminary round match against John Michael. He participated in the Q School in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2017, he narrowly missed out on a Tour Card. Scheffer played on the Challenge Tour and won one event. He also participated in a few Pro Tour events as a replacement and even qualified for a European Tour event in 2017. After that, he largely disappeared from the scene, but he occasionally plays in WDF tournaments (2025 Korea Open and World Masters) and is currently ranked 434th in the WDF rankings.
In 2020, the "Last Man Standing" qualifier was introduced - even though a South African was already playing on the tour - through which Cameron Carolissen
qualified for the PDC World Championship. This meant that in 2021, for the first and so far only time, there were two players from South Africa in the field
of participants. Carolissen had prevailed against Charles Losper in the Last Man Standing final. "The Javelin" was born in Cape Town in 1996 and is one of
the rising stars of African darts. He had a bye in the first round - his opponent was ill with COVID-19. In the second round he lost to Danny Noppert. In
2023 and 2024, Carolissen played on the African Continental Tour, securing several victories. In 2024, he participated in the Last Man Standing tournament
again and won, this time against Kenyan Peter Wachiuri. He also competed in the PDC World Cup alongside Johan Gedlenhuys. At the 2025 World Championship he
lost his opening match against Wessel Nijman, but his average of 96 was the highest ever achieved by an African qualifier at the PDC World Championship.
He also participated in the World Cup again in 2025 this time together with Devon Petersen and Team South Africa on this occasion reached the Last 16
where they lost to Northern Ireland. Carolissen again played with success on the African Continental Tour in 2025.
Between Cameron Carolissen's two appearances at the Alexandra Palace, Grant Sampson stood on stage at the 2023 PDC World Championship. Sampson, born in Cape Town in 1982, accompanied his father and uncle to league matches as a child and continued to play darts occasionally. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, he started to train serously and participated in online tournaments. He also trained regularly with Charles Losper. At the World Championship, Sampson won his first-round match against Keane Barry but lost in the second round to Kim Huybrechts. In 2023 and 2024, Sampson participated in Qualifying School but failed to secure a Tour Card. Since then he has returned to playing tournaments at home, including the African Continental Tour.
A year later, in 2024, Simon Adams qualified for the PDC World Championship. Simon Adams, "The Saint," was born in East London in 1967. Adams is well-known in South Africa - not only as a darts player, but also as a darts coach and promoter of the sport. Together with Devon Petersen he is particularly committed to teaching darts to children from the townships in schools. He hopes this will offer them a future. Adams lost in the first round at the Alexandra Palace to Ricky Evans, but still considered his World Championship appearance a success, as it allowed him to show the children from the townships the opportunities that the sport offers them.
And this year, for the very first time, the African participant didn't come from South Africa, but from Kenya - David Munyua fared better than his compatriot
Peter Wachiuri, who had lost in the final of the qualifying tournament the previous year to Cameron Carolissen. Born in 1990, Munyua lived up to his
nickname "Why Not" in his first-round match, convincingly defeating Mike de Decker. With his
Walk-On he danced his way into the hearts of the fans.
Munyua lost his second-round match against Kevin Doets clearly with 3-0. Overall, however, he probably was satisfied with his World Championship debut.
When you think of African darts players at the PDC World Championship, Devon Petersen is undoubtedly the first name that comes to mind. For many years, he was the face of Africa in the PDC, not just at the World Championship.
But he wasn't the first, and by no means the only representative of the sport to compete in the PDC. The very first South African player in a PDC World Championship
actually appeared back in 2007 - not at Alexandra Palace, but at the Circus Tavern, and he was even more successful in his debut there than the Kenyan player this year.
Wynand Havenga - born like so many of the South African participants on the PDC World Championship stage in Cape Town on September 6, 1965 - won the South African Masters in 2006 by this qualifying for the 2007 PDC World Championship. Havenga - nicknamed Springbok - reached the last 16 of the tournament defeating on the way Steve Maish and Peter Manley where he lost to Darren Webster. Due to a shoulder injury, he could no longer play darts and worked as a motorcycle shop manager. The South African pioneer passed away last January.
Havengas match against Darren Webster you can find here: Havenga v Darren Webster
In the next two years - 2008 and 2009 - it was Charles Losper, nicknamed "The Sensation," who qualified for the PDC World Championship. He, too, was born in
Cape Town and a few years younger than Havenga. Losper wasn't as successful in the World Championship, losing in the first round both times. However, Losper
remained active in darts and repeatedly participated in the World Championship qualifiers. In 2022 he actually qualified for a third time, but visa issues and
the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from traveling. Losper, a police officer by profession, also participated in the 2007 Grand Slam of Darts and competed in
WDF tournaments.
Leslie Francis won the 2009 South African Masters, defeating Devon Petersen in the final. Francis was from Gauteng, South Africa, and was born in 1956. His nickname was "Striker." Francis also represented South Africa at the WDF World Cup. In his World Championship debut, he lost in the preliminary round to Irishman Aodhagen O'Neill. He subsequently attempted several times to qualify but without success.
The 2011 PDC World Championship marked the beginning of Devon Petersen's golden era. He also qualified for the World Championship in 2012, 2014, and from 2017 to 2022.
He won the South African Masters in 2010 - defeating Leslie Francis - and 2011. Devon Petersen, the "African Warrior," was also born in Cape Town in 1986.
His walk-on captivated the English darts fans. Petersen didn't only play World Championship - in 2011 he became the first African player to secure a Tour Card.
At the end of 2012 he lost it, but regained it at Qualifying School in 2015 and held it until 2023.
In 2014 he qualified for the World Championship again and from 2017 to 2022 he participated every year - several times as a seeded player. He reached the last 16
three times - in 2014, 2019 and 2021. He also played in many other PDC Majors, including the PDC World Cup several times with different partners.
His greatest success was reaching the semi-finals of the 2020 European Championship. During his time in the PDC, Devon Peters was also occasionally
part of the commentary team.
Here you can see his famous Walk-On
In the years when Petersen did not qualify for the World Championship, Africa was represented by other players from South Africa.
In 2013 it was Charl Pietersen, the "Bionic Man," born in Cape Town on March 10, 1991, who appeared at Alexandra Palace as the winner of the 2012 South
African Masters. He was defeated by Max Hopp in the preliminary round. He then participated in the 2013 Qualifying School, defeating Kevin McDine and
throwing a nine-dart finish and became the second African darts player to earn a Tour Card. He stayed without success on the PDC circuit but builded
Team South Africa together with Shawn Hogan at the 2014 PDC World Cup. The team had match darts against Team England, but Pietersen missed them. He
lost his Tour Card, was defeated in the final of the South African Masters both 2014 and 2015 by Devon Petersen, and nothing has been heard of Pietersen since.
n 2015, Nolan "The Nigel" Arendse-also born in Cape Town, but in 1968-qualified for the World Championship after winning the qualifier against Devon Petersen. Arendse had started playing darts in 1990 but had to take a break after a car accident and a heart attack. His qualification for the World Championship was almost a miracle. Arendse won his first match but then lost to Brendan Dolan. He unsuccessfully attempted to get a Tour Card in Q School in 2015, 2017, and 2018, and also played in a few Challenge Tour events in 2017, but appears to no longer be actively playing darts.
In 2016, Warrick Scheffer, who was born in Durban but lives in Cape Town, was the South African qualifier. Scheffer lost his preliminary round match against John Michael. He participated in the Q School in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2017, he narrowly missed out on a Tour Card. Scheffer played on the Challenge Tour and won one event. He also participated in a few Pro Tour events as a replacement and even qualified for a European Tour event in 2017. After that, he largely disappeared from the scene, but he occasionally plays in WDF tournaments (2025 Korea Open and World Masters) and is currently ranked 434th in the WDF rankings.
In 2020, the "Last Man Standing" qualifier was introduced - even though a South African was already playing on the tour - through which Cameron Carolissen
qualified for the PDC World Championship. This meant that in 2021, for the first and so far only time, there were two players from South Africa in the field
of participants. Carolissen had prevailed against Charles Losper in the Last Man Standing final. "The Javelin" was born in Cape Town in 1996 and is one of
the rising stars of African darts. He had a bye in the first round - his opponent was ill with COVID-19. In the second round he lost to Danny Noppert. In
2023 and 2024, Carolissen played on the African Continental Tour, securing several victories. In 2024, he participated in the Last Man Standing tournament
again and won, this time against Kenyan Peter Wachiuri. He also competed in the PDC World Cup alongside Johan Gedlenhuys. At the 2025 World Championship he
lost his opening match against Wessel Nijman, but his average of 96 was the highest ever achieved by an African qualifier at the PDC World Championship.
He also participated in the World Cup again in 2025 this time together with Devon Petersen and Team South Africa on this occasion reached the Last 16
where they lost to Northern Ireland. Carolissen again played with success on the African Continental Tour in 2025.
Between Cameron Carolissen's two appearances at the Alexandra Palace, Grant Sampson stood on stage at the 2023 PDC World Championship. Sampson, born in Cape Town in 1982, accompanied his father and uncle to league matches as a child and continued to play darts occasionally. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, he started to train serously and participated in online tournaments. He also trained regularly with Charles Losper. At the World Championship, Sampson won his first-round match against Keane Barry but lost in the second round to Kim Huybrechts. In 2023 and 2024, Sampson participated in Qualifying School but failed to secure a Tour Card. Since then he has returned to playing tournaments at home, including the African Continental Tour.
A year later, in 2024, Simon Adams qualified for the PDC World Championship. Simon Adams, "The Saint," was born in East London in 1967. Adams is well-known in South Africa - not only as a darts player, but also as a darts coach and promoter of the sport. Together with Devon Petersen he is particularly committed to teaching darts to children from the townships in schools. He hopes this will offer them a future. Adams lost in the first round at the Alexandra Palace to Ricky Evans, but still considered his World Championship appearance a success, as it allowed him to show the children from the townships the opportunities that the sport offers them.
And this year, for the very first time, the African participant didn't come from South Africa, but from Kenya - David Munyua fared better than his compatriot
Peter Wachiuri, who had lost in the final of the qualifying tournament the previous year to Cameron Carolissen. Born in 1990, Munyua lived up to his
nickname "Why Not" in his first-round match, convincingly defeating Mike de Decker. With his
Walk-On he danced his way into the hearts of the fans.
Munyua lost his second-round match against Kevin Doets clearly with 3-0. Overall, however, he probably was satisfied with his World Championship debut.