World Darts Championship star Scott Williams on being compared to Michael Buble and beating Michael van Gerwen on the famous Alexandra Palace stage
Scott Williams is hoping to shed his reputation as the ‘Michael Buble of darts’ – but not until after the World Championship.
Following his stunning run to the semi-finals at the 2023/24 tournament, which included an upset victory over Michael van Gerwen in the last eight, the Lincolnshire thrower has had a solid if unspectacular year. However, not for the first time, he appears to be running into form ahead of Ally Pally, enjoying a strong run at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, where he reached the quarter-finals.
His habit of hitting his best just as Christmas songs start playing has led to jokey comparisons with a certain Canadian crooner, who also pops up at this time of year.
“People have joked, calling me the Michael Buble of darts because I only turn up in October, November and December!” said Williams, who faces German Niko Springer in the first round tonight (Thursday). “Over the last couple of years, that is about right. I want to try and change that next year by getting into a couple more TV events, just to take my game to the next level.
“It’s about finding consistency with my practice. I’ve been tinkering with my equipment. Something that felt right a year ago might not feel right now. I need to try and figure out what that is.
“I think I have figured it out and I’ll be fine for the World Championship, and then the new Wimau World Masters in January, which I’m really looking forward to.”
Williams’ entertaining march to the last four a year ago would have been the tournament’s standout performance but for the exploits of a certain Luke Littler. However, the quality of the 34-year-old’s run cannot be underestimated.
Williams listed: “I beat the Japanese number one [Haruki Muramatsu], the Dutch number two [Danny Noppert], the German number one [Martin Schindler], the Australian number one [Damon Heta] and the Dutch number one [Van Gerwen], then lost out to the English number one [Luke Humphries].
“The players I played were the best in their countries and I beat them. I played four players in the top 10 and beat three of them. It was a hell of an achievement, but you can’t look past what Luke Littler did, it was unbelievable.”
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No shrinking violet on the stage, Williams was determined not to be intimidated by the imposing Van Gerwen in the quarters. By his own admission, he took his ‘peacockery’ to another level against the three-time champion, who was floored 5-3 in one of the tournament’s biggest-ever shocks.
“I felt confident as soon as I walked into Ally Pally,” recalled Williams. “I’d not really seen what he’d been doing, who he’d been playing, I didn’t really care.
“It’s one of Michael’s things [intimidating opponents], he’s very good at it. He’s doesn’t take the p*** or anything like that. He’s professional but he wants to let you know that he’s there, with his aura, that he is the main man.
“My aim was to show him my presence on the stage. I wanted to make sure he knew that I wasn’t bothered about him, and I think I did that pretty well.”
In the semi-finals he ran into an unstoppable Humphries, who romped to a 6-0 win with an average of almost 109. Williams didn’t play badly, he just wasn’t given the chance to repeat his tournament form.
While a brash character on the stage, Williams is a tad more humble off it. A few days after the World Championship, he was back playing local league football in goal for Swineshead Institute Reserves of the Boston Saturday League.
“It was the semi-final of a cup and we got through,” he recalled proudly. “Sadly, I couldn’t attend the final because I had an exhibition that night. I had so much support from Swineshead and around Boston. It was nice to give the area a bit of recognition.”
Williams has since called time on playing football, but not because he fears an injury which would hinder his darts career.
“I still sign on for the club and help them out when I can, but I think my playing days are well and truly over,” he admitted. “I played football for over 20 years, continuously. The muscles in legs just decided to say, ‘No, you can do this anymore!’
“It’s more of a physical thing rather than a mental thing because, in my head, I can still do it all. But my legs and my back say ,‘No, sit down and have a drink!’.”
The drinks will certainly be flowing back in Swineshead if Williams can put on another festive show Mr Buble would be proud of.
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