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In a significant turn of events within the world of professional darts, Leighton Bennett, an 18-year-old player lauded for his talent, has received an eight-year ban from the sport due to serious allegations of match fixing. This ban, imposed after Bennett was found guilty of 10 counts of manipulating match results, marks a pivotal moment in a sport increasingly alert to integrity issues. The match fixing originated during the Modus Super Series in September 2023, where suspicious betting patterns emerged during four of his matches. Bennett's offenses included missing the dartboard intentionally, providing insider information about matches, and failing to cooperate with ongoing investigations. Following the announcement of his punishment, prominent players, including Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries, expressed their opinions, with both acknowledging the severity of the sanction as necessary for the integrity of the sport. Van Gerwen underscored the need for stringent measures against such misconduct, while Humphries reflected on the consequences of Bennett’s poor decision-making. This incident emphasizes a growing concern over betting scandals and the potential repercussions they have not only for the individuals involved but also for the sport as a whole. The decision to ban Bennett serves as a cautionary tale for others in professional darts, highlighting the critical need to maintain fairness and honesty in competitive play. With the landscape of competitive sports being tarnished by similar scandals in recent years, the actions taken against Bennett represent a decisive stance against corruption, aiming to preserve the spirit of the game for future generations.