Darts prodigy Leighton Bennett has been slapped with an eight-year ban from the sport following match-fixing allegations.
The 18-year-old faced the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) and was found guilty on 10 counts of fixing four games.
His charges included leaking inside information about fixtures, failing to cooperate with the investigation, and signing a contract with an unregistered manager. Bennett, once hailed as the next Phil Taylor, will be 27 by the time his suspension ends and he can return to the oche.
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His ban will lift on August 11, 2032, until then, he is barred from any involvement in DRA-organised events. He’s also been hit with a bill for £8,100.23 in costs.
Fellow player Billy Warriner received a decade-long ban for his role in the scandal. Warriner allegedly acted as a go-between for the involved parties, helped rig the four matches, and organised fixed bets.
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Both players were initially suspended in August after the DRA announced they were under investigation for match-fixing. The rigged games occurred during Bennett’s stint on the Modus Super Series last year, reports The Express.
Damning evidence against Bennett began to pile up when footage surfaced of him missing the board entirely while playing against Ryan Harrington, along with some suspiciously off-target attempts at preferred doubles.
Bennett was poised to join Luke Littler in leading the next generation of darts, now faces a bleak future. He admitted he’d love a rivalry with Littler: “I’d love it if Luke and I became a new Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld sort of rivalry.
(Image: Getty Images)
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“It would be great if we drew each other at the UK Open on the main stage. I think that’s what people would want.
“I’d want that draw definitely. I think I’ve played Luke 50 or 60 times. I’ve got a better record over him, only because I was a bit older probably. Over the past two years he has battered me more. I beat him last time though, I need to say that obviously!”
He and Warriner have until December 14 to appeal the DRA’s ruling. In 2019, Bennett became the youngest player to win the BDO World Youth Championship at just 13. His star truly began to rise when he secured a victory over all-time great Taylor that same year.
‘Boom Boom’ earned his PDC Tour card earlier in 2024, where he pledged to rival World Championship runner-up Littler.