function add_player_to_leaderboard(\mysqli $dbh, $player)
    {
        $player = strval($player);
        
        $sth = $dbh->prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `num_rows` FROM `db_checks` WHERE `username`=? LIMIT 1;");
        $sth->bind_param('s', $player);
        $sth->execute();
        
        $sth->bind_result($num_rows);
        $sth->fetch();
        
        $player_exists = (bool)($num_rows > 0); // don't think (bool) is necessary but i did it anyways to clarify the meaning
 
        $sth->close();
            
        if (!$player_exists)  
        {
            insert_new_player($dbh, $player);
            
            echo "Inserted new entry"; 
            return false;
        }
        else  
        {
            echo "Name exists. - Unfinished  ";
            return true;
        }
    }