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;
		}
	}