Shaggy's Middle Finger Fiasco: Munich Crowd Gets More Than They Bargained For

By Lewis Barnett 20 April, 2025 4 mins read 67 Views

Holy crap. If there's one thing I've learned from watching darts over the years, it's that European crowds can be absolute savages. And poor Scott Williams just found that out the hard way.

The 35-year-old Englishman (nicknamed "Shaggy" for reasons I've never fully understood) completely lost his cool during today's German Grand Prix match against Josh Rock. And honestly? I don't entirely blame him.

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When Munich Gets Mouthy

Look, I've been to plenty of darts tournaments in my time. Back in 2018, I spent nearly €200 on tickets to see the Premier League in Rotterdam, and those Dutch fans were wild but generally good-natured. The Munich crowd today? Different story altogether.

Williams was getting absolutely heckled throughout his match. At one point, someone clearly dropped an F-bomb his way that was loud enough for the commentators to notice.

Dan Dawson actually pointed it out on the broadcast: "It's fair to say he's not a favourite of the fans here in Munich."

No kidding.

The Finger Heard 'Round the Oche

So what does our boy Shaggy do? Exactly what my cousin Tommy would've done after his third pint - he flashed his middle finger directly at teh crowd behind him as he stepped up to throw. Classic heat-of-the-moment stuff that's gonna cost him.

I texted my buddy who works for PDC Europe about it. His response: "Already drafting the fine paperwork." Apparently the world #37 is definitely facing some financial consequences for that little gesture.

And those trousers he was wearing? Good lord. Looked like something my aunt would've made into curtains in 1992. Darts fashion remains... unique.

Twitter Loses Its Collective Mind (As Usual)

Social media went predictably nuts over the middle-finger moment. One person called him "box office" which... yeah, that's one way to put it. Another fan was practically begging for "Shaggy for Prem League 2026!" which feels a bit premature considering he just lost 6-2 to Rock.

My favorite take was someone asking if we could "reserve a spot for him in every Euro Tour?" Because apparently what darts needs is more players flipping off paying customers. (Though between us, it does make for entertaining viewing from my couch.)

What's Next? The Littler Show

While Williams is probably sitting somewhere counting the money he's about to lose, the tournament rolls on. Rob Cross managed to beat Ricardo Pietreczko 6-4 earlier today, and poor Damon Heta got absolutely demolished 6-0 by Ryan Joyce.

The main event tonight features everyone's favorite teenage sensation, Luke Littler. The kid who made me feel ancient and unaccomplished when he reached the World Championship final at 16 will be taking on Cam Crabtree, a 21-year-old Londoner.

I'm putting £10 on Littler to win without dropping more than 2 legs. The boy's on fire lately.

When Did Darts Get So... Dramatic?

Remember when darts was just a bunch of middle-aged guys with beer bellies quietly throwing pointy things at a board? Those days are long gone. Now we've got crowd drama, middle fingers, and teenage superstars.

And you know what? I'm here for all of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

What's the standard height for hanging a dartboard?

The standard height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) from the floor to the bullseye. This measurement is official across professional darts organizations worldwide, including the PDC and BDO. It's designed to create a fair playing field for players of different heights.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

How do I practice darts effectively if I'm playing alone?

Solo practice doesn't have to be boring—in fact, it's often more productive than casual games with friends. The key is having structured practice routines that target specific skills rather than just throwing randomly at the board.

Statistics

A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).

External Links

How To

Throwing Technique: The Basics

The perfect dart throw is all about consistency. Your arm should move like a pendulum, with the elbow as the pivot point. The dart should travel in a straight line toward the target, not in an arc.