Scott Williams is known in darts as a player who rarely bites his tongue. The Englishman’s outspoken character often entertains, but his spontaneity has also landed him in
trouble before. Still, Williams has no intention of reshaping his personality to fit life as a professional darter.
Authenticity matters to Williams. Once he walks on stage, he wants to be himself above all. He now fully understands that this sometimes carries risks.
“I guess the most important thing is being yourself,” Williams says. “Unfortunately for me, myself is someone a bit eccentric and erratic and I say the wrong things at the wrong time because I don't really have a filter.”
With growing attention for his results, Williams is facing more interviews and media duties. He tries to keep his own style there as well. Media training does not appeal to him at all.
"So I'm kind of trying to learn, I'm just learning this media side of it. I'm not media trained, I don't want to be media trained. I feel like if I was media trained it wouldn't be as raw and as natural as it is for me."
That openness makes Williams a popular interviewee. "But everyone wants me because I speak, I'm well spoken, I'm nice and loud and I'm straight to the point most of the time. It's easy for me, but I do have to be able, you're absolutely right. I can be a naughty boy."
Incident with Humphries
Asked whether he regrets certain comments or actions, Williams doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t truly regret anything, though he does mention a much-discussed moment with Luke Humphries. During the Grand Slam of Darts a few years ago, Williams made a hand gesture toward Humphries, and a still TV image of it drew plenty of attention.
"I put two fingers up to Luke Humphries at the Grand Slam three years ago, but it wasn't malicious and everyone knows it,” Williams explains. "It was just unfortunately someone captured the still from Sky's TV, that's all it was. It was just a mate and I just went, and that's it.
Scott Williams has got in trouble with the DRA.
Williams adds that players can be full of adrenaline right after a match. Especially after a big win, finding the right words immediately isn’t always easy.
"It's a bit different, especially when they interview you on the stage straight after your game and you're so happy, you're elated. You've got so much adrenaline running through you. Someone like me, that's why they haven't interviewed me on the stage for the last three years, because I say silly stuff."
Williams doesn’t see himself as completely incorrigible, though. With a smile, he stresses he is trying to keep his sharp edges in check. "I am learning to behave myself, I haven't swore once on this one. I swore a couple of times elsewhere and I was like, oh. So I'm trying, I'm trying my best."