A PDC darts star has been banned from the sport for eight years after admitting his part in a match fixing scandal that allowed punters in the know to profit at the bookies.
Leighton Bennett enjoyed an even more glittering youth career than that of Luke Littler; he was crowned BDO World Youth Champion at 13, before beating Phil Taylor at an exhibition that same year – leading some to predict that ‘Boom Boom’ would replicate the achievements of The Power.
But Bennett, now 18, will be effectively banned from all professional darts tournaments after being found guilty of playing his part in a match-fixing ring.
Missing the Board
Bennett was involved in the Modus Super Series events in 2023… months before he would go on to win his PDC Tour Card at the Q School qualifying tournament.
But after making a solid start to life as a pro, Bennett and another player – Billy Warriner – were suspended in August as the PDC investigated allegations of match fixing.
Those were flagged up by the International Betting Integrity Agency (IBIA), who reported a series of suspicious betting patterns relating to Bennett’s Modus Super Series games in September 2023.
It was alleged that he had contrived to rig four different games with Warriner, although there’s no evidence to suggest that any of Bennett’s opponents were in on the fix.
But Boom Boom himself was struggling to keep up the façade; one video of him went viral after he completely missed the board in one of the fixed games.
Yeah, he’s guilty 😂 https://t.co/r8AVUct90n pic.twitter.com/Ypcwifly3y
— Josh (@joshpearson180) August 13, 2024
According to the DRA’s findings, ‘whilst the majority of the suspicious betting took place online, some bets were placed at betting shops in Gainsborough and Retford. Warriner resides in Gainsborough and Bennett lives nearby in Lincoln.’
“In total there were 47 online bets, 30 of which were doubles. £3,096 was staked with £15,484.66 won, a profit of £12,579.46… which is a 500% return on the investment.”
Following the comprehensive investigation, both Bennett and Warriner were found guilty of fixing four games back in 2023.
The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) charged Bennett with leaking inside information about the rigged games, failing to cooperate with their investigation and signing a contract with an unregistered manager. He has been banned from all DRA sanctioned events for eight years.
Warriner, who is said to have acted as a middle-man in the scandal by arranging the fix and coordinating bets, was also found to have acted aggressively towards an opponent and referee in a separate incident. He admitted to 19 of the 21 charges levied against him and was banned for ten years.
Big Rig
A number of darts players have been embroiled in match fixing scandals over the years… including some of the greatest ever to toe the oche.
Way back in 2006, Gary Anderson – who would go on to become a two-time PDC world champion – was throwing on the amateur circuit in the BDO. And one of his games at the organisation’s World Championship against Gary Robson was the subject of heavy scrutiny after suspicious betting patterns were recorded.
Both players denied any knowledge of a fix and were reported to be ‘distraught’ when questioned on the matter. But William Hill commented on receiving some of their ‘strangest ever’ bets on a darts match, while a Coral spokesperson admitted that they had settled bets on the game ‘through gritted teeth.’
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld quit an online tournament after he was accused of match fixing in 2021. The Dutchman averaged just 65 in a loss to Martin Adams, with as much as €60,000 wagered on Adams to win in the low-key game.
A potential future world champion has been embroiled too. Wessel Nijman, who has been backed into 30/1 at the 2025 PDC World Championship, was banned for five years by the DRA after admitting fixing a game at a different MODUS event back in 2020.
The Dutchman was banned for five years, but after complying with an investigation and attending a player education course, he only served around half of the sentence.
One of his co-conspirators from the fixed game, Kyle McKinstry, was banned for eight years after being found guilty of rigging contests with Nijman and David Evans, as well as failing to produce his phone records to the investigation.