PDC World Darts Championship semi-finalist Scott Williams happy to get back to Swineshead, his family and chicken burgers

World Darts Championship semi-finalist Scott Williams has revealed how cooking chicken burgers for the family played a part in his success.

The oche ace has secured a new legion of fans after reaching the final four of the sport’s most glamorous competition.

But away from the Alexandra Palace stage and back home in Swineshead the 33-year-old has returned to the daily routine of school and nursery runs and doing jobs around the house.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t keep his eye in.

“Throughout the summer my board’s in the garage but in the winter when the weather’s not so nice it’s in the kitchen,” explained Scott, who lives with wife Ellie, kids Buzz and Aurora and has a son Kaden from a previous relationship.

“When I’m cooking dinners and things like that I can jump on the board and do a little routine, get off, go again.

“I can chuck the chicken burgers in the oven and know I’ve got 22 minutes to practice.”

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Reaching the semis of the PDC tournament and beating three of the world’s top 10 players en route has seen Williams’ Instagram following surge from 1,000 to 10,000 in a matter of days, but the Lincolnshire lad says life is ‘exactly the same’ as it ever was back in Swineshead.

“I’m really happy to be home. Minus Christmas, where I had three days here, I’ve been away for three-and-a-half-weeks,” he added.

“It was nice to see the kids and sleep in my own bed.

“Possibly the only difference is I’ve had since I’ve been back is more communication with people. A lot of people know who I am more than what I look like, and some people have started putting them together.”

Speaking to LincsOnline from Swineshead’s Green Dragon pub, where he regularly practices in a dedicated darts room, Williams thanked the many fans from Lincolnshire and beyond who have offered him support and encouragement over the past few weeks.

“The support I’ve had from everyone has been great; the messages, phone calls, constant congratulations.

“Even when I was gutted about losing to Luke (Humphries, the eventual champion). everyone has been so good to me.

“It’s been unbelievable. So many tweets, messages, Instagram stories.

“It’s been so much love an respect from a lot of people who didn’t necessarily know who I was a few weeks ago. Now a lot of them are into darts due to what I did.”

As families around the area tuned in to cheer on Scott, parents have shared stories of their youngsters demanding darts boards, something Shaggy – a nickname from his teenage years working in a warehouse – can get behind.

“So they should,” he said. “All kids should have dart boards, whether its soft top boards, magnetic boards or steel tipped boards.

“My kids have magnetic boards at the minute and they’re getting better.

“Get on the boards and start practising. Maybe you might be as good as Luke Littler one day.”

But while many wannabes put in hours of practice, Scott admits he’ll put in around 90 minutes of work a day.

“I’m one of the lucky ones who has a really natural throw and a lot of the time it just goes right,” he revealed.

“Other people have to practice more.

“But I do practice. I have religious sessions each day as well as bits and bobs with other people wherever I go, and in the local leagues as well.

“For me it’s about the social aspect of the game as much as how good you do. I’ll just always keep chucking the darts.”

While Scott’s run to the final four saw him get the better of some of the sport’s best-known names, including three-time winner Michael van Gerwen, there was a bump in the road when he made a ‘two World Wars and one World Cup’ comment after defeating German opponent Martin Schindler.

The comment, for which Scott later apologised and called ‘genuinely stupid, saw him take a break from X (formerly Twitter) due to a barrage of angry posts, some wishing diseases on him.

But Scott – whose walk on song I’m Not Okay by My Chemical Romance, an anthem for mental health awareness, was chosen in memory of friends from the area who have died – said the reaction from German fans, friends of Schindler and also German TV was positive, with the majority seeing it as an off-the-cuff remark.

Away from darts Scott is a keen football fan, turning out for Boston League side Swineshead Institute and watching Boston United when he can.

“I’ve got to a handful of Boston games this year,” added Scott, who received a good luck message from Pilgrims assistant manager Paul Bastock during the run at Alexandra Palace.

“Bazza sent a message the other day saying he and the rest of the team were behind me. That was great as football’s my real passion and darts is my hobby.

“I miss football like mad when I can’t watch and play, but I have to put my work first. But hope to play both sports as long as I can.”

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