"Josh doesn’t know what’s going on, Cross lives five minutes from me — he has no idea what’s going on" - Scott Williams slams media while shutting down dartitis speculation

Scott Williams is known for his flamboyant displays on the stage, a place he loves and thrives at, specifically at the PDC World Darts Championship. He is going into this event raring to go and full of positivity despite the false reports having been circulated around him.

In an interview with Online Darts, the former World Championship semi-finalist opened up on how he was feeling. "Really good, really good, yeah. Even the loss against Josh — 6–0 — it didn’t reflect that. He was very good, and I was very close all the time. But yeah, I’m great. I’m in a good place — just moved house, doing life stuff. I’m really good and I’m really looking forward to it.

The mindset of Williams is currently very good. " I’m feeling really good. Practising really well, enjoying life. I’ve got stuff going on everywhere. I’m really looking forward to it," he stated. "Tough first game — I know you’ll come to that. But I’m looking forward to getting back on stage, back in front of the crowd, and enjoying myself properly again. I haven’t really done that since Munich, even though I looked fine — but that wasn’t great either."

It has not been the most plain sailing for 'Shaggy' in recent times. In a Players Championship game, he was seen pictured struggling to release the dart. This brought up rumours of the dreaded dartitis. However, it seems that Williams has brushed this over. It even confused some of his best friends on tour.

"Yeah, it’s really frustrating — especially at the Grand Slam when Josh [Rock] was asked about it," he said. "Me and Josh are really close — really good friends on tour. But Josh doesn’t know what’s going on. Rob [Cross] lives five minutes from me — he has no idea what’s going on. Rab, the manager, has no idea. I keep stuff close to my chest."

It has not got in his way for the excitement of a return to Ally Pally, but is not going to get complacent with a tough opening round contest in the form of Paolo Nebrida. "But I’m feeling good, practising well, playing really well. I wasn’t crap against Josh last week — unfortunately he just pulled my pants down and I had to pull them back up afterwards. Simple as that. I’m looking forward to playing Paolo. Paolo’s a tough character — had some really good runs the last few years: beat Ross Smith last year, Jim Williams. I don’t want to let him beat another Williams! He was close to beating Peter the year Peter won the Worlds. I’m enjoying the game and trying to get people enjoying the game again."

Williams confessed that his attitude when he lost his tour card was not great. "When I won the Challenge Tours in 2022 — probably the best amateur in the world — I didn’t give a flying **** what was going on anywhere. Turned up, won a tour card, won a Pro Tour — did whatever I wanted."

But when came success, he wanted to push on. "But I’ve got a World semi-final, Champions League quarter-final — that’s great. But I’m not winning the big titles yet. My floor game hasn’t been good enough. My peripheral game hasn’t been good enough. I’ve got to work on that. But life gets in the way: I run the village shop. I coach people. There’s more to life than darts. There’s a backbone to it."

Williams has not had the most consistent year. His floor form has held him back from returning regularly to the big stage, where he thrives. As he looks for solutions to get him back competing with the best, Williams has ruled out this method.

"No — I can’t. My stuff comes from deeper — the aggression, the love, the money — it all comes from a deeper place," he said. "I don’t think I can personally coach myself back. But I speak to people. I’m having lessons in management — personal management — head stuff. The mental side is massive. I’m very headstrong. But sometimes that takes over — and you don’t want that. I’m happy with what I’m doing though. Happy with how well I played last week."

The interviewer referenced Nathan Aspinall's struggles, and how he came through them with flying colours to being labelled as one of the best players in the world. While the duo have never spoke, Williams looks up to him with admiration in what he has come through.

"I’ve never spoken to him. I’m not that kind of guy. Luke Humphries and Peter Wright were great with me after the video came out — offered anything. I asked Luke for a bank card — he said take it. Didn’t take it though — I’m a nice guy," he joked.

"Nathan’s one of the guys I’ve always looked up to. His game, the way he behaves, his aggression, his love for the game — he does it for his family, and I’m doing the same. If it doesn’t go great, I’m not letting my family down — I’m letting myself down. But when it goes well and the big bucks come in, I’m doing it for the family. Massive respect for Nathan. We’re trying to do the same thing — for family, for money, for a future. And what he’s gone through… the Voldemort of darts — it can get you. People have walked away from the game because of it. I’m looking further than that."