BREAKING NEWS: “Eight-year ban is harsh” – James Wade pleads for second chance for fallen top talent Leighton Bennett
James Wade will soon begin his 23rd consecutive World Championship (2x BDO, 20x PDC). The 41-year-old is the 16th seed and will take on the winner of the first-round duel between Jermaine Wattimena and Stefan Bellmont in his opening match.
“It has been over a week now since the World Championship draw – and I am still in the dark about who I am going to face in the first round,” Wade said in his monthly column at Daily Star. “It is a bit of a superstition for me ahead of major tournaments not to know who I am playing and long may it stay that way.”
“I could take every single measure to ensure I don’t find out – lock myself in the house, take myself offline and avoid all sporting new channels – but I have not done any of that, because deep down I know it really isn’t that bad if I discover who I am due to be playing..”
“It has become, in truth, a bit of a game with myself and if it helps me to better prepare for the Worlds, then it can only be a good thing. So, how has the preparation been going? I have been slowly increasing the practicing hours during this week and trying to ensure that I have not got too much going on in the background that might distract me.”
Wade also touched on the eight-year suspension for match-fixing for his fellow darter Leighton Bennett. “I have not been avoiding sporting news channels, so I am aware of the eight-year ban given to Leighton Bennett by the Darts Regulation Authority for match fixing.
“Now, I don’t know all the details but Leighton has been found guilty and he should be punished. However, I just think the eight-year ban is harsh.
“With this ban at just 18 years old, his professional darts career is effectively over. He has gone from darts prodigy to losing everything based on a misguided decision. I don’t personally know Leighton, but I hope there is a duty of care in place and someone is keeping an eye on him.
“I know he parted ways with his manager last year and if he has been badly advised, or left to his own devices to make these wrong decisions, then surely there should be an opportunity for rehabilitation.
“It happens in other sports, such as athletics and boxing, where a two or three year ban is imposed, and that person is given one final chance to put it right. He has put his whole life into darts and it is a shame he’s not going to get another opportunity at it.
“As for me, I will keep up the practice and then I am off to Manchester on Friday for one final exhibition event before the World Championships and when I face off against this year’s first opponent. I wonder who it could be?”
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