Only 99 of the 100 bracelets up for grabs in live events at this year’s World Series of Poker will be awarded.
WSOP officials announced last night that they will not being handing the hardware, or even crowning an official champion, in this year’s $1,500 no-limit hold’em millionaire maker. Instead, they are refusing to acknowledge a champion and splitting the prize money between the final two players.
The decision comes after a five-day investigation into heads-up chip dumping allegations between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll.
The investigation into WSOP Event 53 has been completed.
We have concluded that in order to uphold the integrity of the game and to uphold our official WSOP Tournament Rules, no winner will be recognized and no bracelet will be awarded for this year’s tournament. The remaining… https://t.co/giL0Ij9Cwj
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 1, 2025
Yaginuma and Carroll reached heads-up play with Carroll holding a massive 10-to-1 chip lead. However, Yaginuma stood to win an additional $1 million from a ClubWPT Gold promotion if he won the event.
Yaginuma proceeded to overcome that chip deficit and win the event. But there were numerous hands throughout his comeback that made many on social media believe there was collusion between the final two.
Since an additional seven-figure score was on the line, many speculated that it spurred a backroom deal to allow Yaginuma to win and split the extra cash.
Did They Receive A Lifetime Ban?
The WSOP didn’t state this publicly, but several are claiming tournament officials also banned Carroll and Yaginuma from playing in future events.
Everyone saying this is a good decision, they were banned for life. Complete clown show
— Caleb Shumard (@ElGueroChulo7) July 1, 2025
Pretty insane that WSOP banned both of them
— Francis Anderson (@FrancisPoker123) July 1, 2025
There is no confirmation that either player received a ban.
The ClubWPT Gold promotion required Yaginuma to win the event. The online poker room using the sweepstakes casino model to operate in the U.S. already paid the Maryland native the $1 million.
The promotion dictates that a player must win a WSOP bracelet to get the extra money. Thus, the WSOP’s decision could negate the payout since nobody was credited with a victory.
But ClubWPT Gold won’t be attempting to take the money back. Less than a day after the WSOP decision, ClubWPT posted on X/Twitter that Yaginuma will keep the money.
A deal is a deal, @JesseYagz. You finished with all of the chips and you had a Gold Rush Ticket.
You’re getting the $1,000,000 bonus. Congratulations. pic.twitter.com/WMPcD5IRoi
— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) July 1, 2025
As if that wasn’t strong enough, ClubWPT Gold is leaning into the controversy, using it in marketing campaigns for upcoming giveaways.
CEO calls WPT Accountant about the additional $1,000,000 😳 pic.twitter.com/mNdEsyWbVf
— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) July 1, 2025
