Inaugural Darts Championships enters knockout stages

A player aims a shot during the Baboon Challenge Darts Championships at Summit Resort in Nakuru City on May 9, 2026. [Ben Ahenda, Standard].

The inaugural Baboon Challenge Darts Championships enters the knockout stages this morning at Summit Resort in Nakuru City.

Over 100 players started off but so far only less than 30 are fighting in the knockout stages of men and female singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

It's being held at the proximity of Lake Nakuru National Park as one of the seeding events of Kenya Darts Association (KDA) Nakuru branch after the one held at Jacaranda Sports Grill in ASK Nakuru Showground last month.

KDA Nakuru branch chairman Simon Kariuki is impressed after adding a new member to increase their membership to 25 clubs in the county meant to shape the darts' landscape in the county.

"Getting a new tournament in our ranks is a very big development and an attraction to us after the emergence of top Kenyan darters taking part in global assignments at the world stage," Kariuki told Standard Sports at a press conference.

The top Kenyan darters are David Munyua and Peter Wachiuri who featured Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championships and Modus Super Series in United Kingdom last year respectively.

"That's the trend we need our darters to take as we try spring up more of such players tournaments like Baboon Challenge Darts Championships," he added.

Kariuki who's also the KDA National Vice President was pleased with the qualification of another Kenyan darter in Ben Ngare of Moran Darts Club of Nairobi into the Modus Super Series to be held in UK later this year.

"This culture of scouting and molding of young darters to be international stars is the way to go," he said.

Mary Mwangi, a lady player of Summit Darts Club appealed to embrace these events in order to compete for bigger prizes.

"The game should not be left only to male players. We (female players) should stand up and be counted in these forums as we also fight for top cash prizes," she appealed.

Meanwhile, Kariuki announced Chambers Hotel would host their next series of events on May 16 and 17.