Scott Williams has been compared to Michael Buble for his habit of showing up near Christmas (Image: PA/Getty)
Scott Williams wants this to be the final he is compared to Christmas crooner Michael Buble. Following his terrific run to the semi-finals at the 2023/24 tournament, which included an upset victory over in the quarter-finals, the 34-year-old has had a quiet year.
Not for the first time though, he has run into form ahead of the Worlds, making the last eight at November’s Players Championship Finals. His habit of turning it on just as Christmas songs start playing has led to him being likened to the Canadian singer, who also show up at this time of year.
“People have called me the Michael Buble of because I only turn up in October, November and December!” joked the Lincolnshire thrower, who faces German Niko Springer in the first round tonight (Thursday) for the right to face friend Rob Cross in round two.
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“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.”
Williams’ epic burst to the last four a year ago would have been the tournament’s standout story but for the exploits of teen sensation However, the quality of ‘Shaggy’s’ run cannot be underestimated.
He said: “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.”
Scott Williams stormed to the semi-finals at the 2024 World Championship (Image: Getty)
Williams was determined not to be intimidated by the imposing Van Gerwen. By his own admission, he took his own swaggering to the next level against the Green Machine, who was dumped out 5-3 in almighty shock.
“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.”
Scott Williams caused a huge shock by beating Michael van Gerwen at the 2024 World Championship (Image: Getty)
In the semi-finals he ran into eventual winner Humphries, who produced his best display of the tournament in a 6-0 scoreline. There was little Williams could do to halt Cool Hand’s charge.
Williams is a little more humble off the stage. A few days after the World Championship, he was back playing in goal for local football team Swineshead Institute Reserves, who play in the Boston Saturday League.
“It was the semi-final of a cup and we got through,” said Williams 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. He explained: “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. 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!’.”