Uganda’s Ocheng Beats Wachiuri To Secure ADC Global Championship Place

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Uganda’s Patrick Ocheng completed an unbeaten run at the ADC Africa Qualifier with an 8-5 victory over Kenya’s Peter Wachiuri, securing a place at November’s Global Championship in Portsmouth, England.

Ocheng averaged 73.82 in the final at Nakuru’s Jacaranda Sports Club, narrowly ahead of Wachiuri’s 72.53. He won 33 legs and lost 15 across five knockout matches.

The victory gives Ocheng another opportunity to compete internationally after visa problems prevented Uganda from making its planned debut at the 2026 PDC World Cup of Darts. It also strengthens his standing among Africa’s leading players following a series of strong results over the past two seasons.

“For the players, this is not just a tournament. This is a potential passport to a global stage,” Nakuru Darts Club patron Simon Mwangi said at the venue.

The qualifier attracted players from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and other parts of the continent. The field included Kenya’s David Munyua and Wachiuri, as well as Ugandans Ocheng and Juma Said.

Munyua reached the last 16 before losing 6-5 to Kenya’s Benson Ngari. Said was eliminated 6-1 by Uganda’s Robert Oklany Cleeg in the round of 64.

Munyua became the first Kenyan to compete at the PDC World Darts Championship in December 2025, defeating Belgium’s Mike De Decker in the opening round.

Ocheng began his campaign with a 6-2 victory over Kenya’s Samuel Gathura. Although Ocheng’s average of 63.02 was slightly lower than Gathura’s 63.28, he made better use of his scoring opportunities and checkouts.

His strongest statistical performance came in the last 16, where he averaged 87.55 in a 6-0 victory over fellow Ugandan Acidri Isaac Passi. Passi averaged 74.73 but failed to win a leg in the only whitewash of Ocheng’s title run.

Ocheng faced his toughest test in the quarter-finals against Kenya’s Charles Njuguna. The match went to a deciding 11th leg before the Ugandan prevailed 6-5. Ocheng averaged 72.75, compared with Njuguna’s 69.72.

The result left Ocheng as Uganda’s only representative in a quarter-final line-up dominated by Kenyans. Wachiuri, Vincent Kimutai, Ngari and Pascal Wanjala were among the home players who reached the last eight.

Ocheng then raised his average to 78.72 in a 7-3 semi-final victory over Ngari. The scoring figures were close, with Ngari averaging 77.79 despite losing by four legs.

Wachiuri reached the final after beating fellow Kenyan Kimutai 7-2 with an average of 79.09. Ocheng, however, controlled the title match and completed an 8-5 victory.

Ocheng recorded a simple mean average of 75.17 across the five rounds, compared with 71.61 for his opponents. His finishing proved decisive, particularly in the opening round and semi-final, where the players posted similar averages despite comfortable winning margins.

Play was briefly halted during the final amid heckling and exchanges between Kenyan and Ugandan supporters. Ocheng remained composed and said afterwards that he had tried to shut out the disruption.

“If someone plays a cold war game, try to pull down to see and settle yourself to play the best game. My opponent is the board, not these people – the players,” Ocheng said in a post-match interview.

A member of the Ugandan delegation, who requested anonymity, claimed the home crowd’s involvement placed additional pressure on Wachiuri and affected his concentration. During the match, Munyua sat near the front and appeared to give Wachiuri instructions before walking away.

Ocheng will join 127 other qualifiers at the ADC Global Championship, scheduled for Nov. 1-8 at the MODUS Live Lounge in Portsmouth.

The Amateur Darts Circuit has replaced the championship’s group stage with a straight knockout format for 2026. All 128 players will begin in the first round, with one defeat ending their campaigns. The seven-round tournament will feature qualifiers from Africa, Australia, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The championship carries a total prize fund of £126,000. The winner will receive £20,000, while each qualifier is guaranteed at least £500. Its 16 sessions will be played before ticketed audiences and broadcast live on Pluto TV.

The Nakuru title continues Ocheng’s rise on the African circuit. He won two African Continental Tour North events in 2025, including an 8-5 victory over Wachiuri in Nakuru.

Their rivalry also featured prominently at the 2024 African qualifier for the PDC World Darts Championship. Ocheng reached the semi-finals after beating Symon Kinyanjui, Dheko Modekai, Peter Wanjii, Gathura and Felix Mwaura. Wachiuri ended his run with a 7-5 victory, averaging 87.11 to Ocheng’s 82.06.

Wachiuri, nicknamed the “Kenyan King”, has competed in the MODUS Super Series and came within one dart of qualifying for the PDC World Championship through the 2024 African event.

Ocheng has also established himself as Uganda’s leading domestic player. He topped the national rankings during team trials in Gulu and has previously spoken about his ambition to play professionally.

“My goal is turning professional,” he told The New Vision at the time.

That ambition appeared to take a major step forward when Ocheng and Said won the African qualifier for the 2026 PDC World Cup of Darts. The pair won five consecutive matches and earned what would have been Uganda’s first appearance in the 40-nation competition.

The Professional Darts Corporation confirmed Uganda’s qualification in March, but Ocheng and Said were later denied visas to enter Germany. After an appeal failed, Uganda withdrew from the tournament in Frankfurt and Gibraltar took the vacant place.