Once regarded as one of the top prospects in the sport and a potential future world champion,
Leighton Bennett looked set to finally start realising that potential when he secured a
PDC Tour Card this January. Sadly however, his career has now been curtailed once again.
Bennett has been suspended from playing
DRA (Darts Regulation Authority) sanctioned events including PDC tournaments with immediate effect after suspicious betting patterns were detected in his matches. It is alleged to have taken place over a two day period back on the 6th September and 8th September in 2023. Both Bennett and also Billy Warriner have been called upon by the DRA to answer a number of serious breaches of the DRA rules.
As soon as the news was announced on Tuesday morning, social media sleuths scanned through the past footage of Bennett is an attempt to unearth the dodgy darts in question. It didn't take long for such images to be found and it's fair to say, the footage is damning.
Bennett can be seen targeting a 164 checkout in one clip. After nailing treble 20 and treble 18, the former prodigy takes a moment before firing his 3rd dart in hand closer to the treble 3 than the bullseye. In another unearthed clip, Bennett is seen aiming for 47. After just about finding the big 15, Bennett waywardly throws his first dart at double 16 completely off the board and into the surround. His second dart at double is at least on the board, but still some distance from the target.
As Bennett is now a PDC Tour Card holder, he won't be able to play on the Pro Tour or any events while this investigation concludes. A player long lauded as the next Phil Taylor, but one that has soon seen his career go up in smoke.
See the footage for yourself in the videos down below and make up your own mind!