Officials from the World Series of Poker are withholding payouts from the top two finishers in yesterday’s $1,500 no-limit hold’em Millionaire Maker event.
Meanwhile, tournament staff is investigating possible collusion during heads-up play.
Jesse Yaginuma completed an improbable comeback against fellow high-stakes tournament grinder James Carroll. Yaginuma was staring a 10:1 chip disadvantage in the face at the outset of heads-up play.
As the heads-up match progressed, many on social media speculated that Carroll was intentionally losing the match by chip-dumping to Yaginuma. The match featured numerous hands that suggested some suspicious activity might be underway.
Dinner break in the Millionaire maker pic.twitter.com/ca0iIgBqIR
— WIll jaffe (@dankness3) June 26, 2025
Wtf am I watching in the milly maker?
If Yagimuna wins he wins an extra 1million from the golden pass
Carroll went from playing great to looking like he’s chip dumping to Yaginuma
This is a wild watch pic.twitter.com/WxqNXtBTOw
— Rob Kuhn (@RobKuhn_) June 26, 2025
According to WSOP rules, chip dumping falls under the definition of “collusion.” As a result, officials decided to withhold payments pending an investigation.
Last night, we were made aware of a potential breach of the official WSOP Tournament Rules during heads up play in Event 53. An investigation is underway. At this time, 1st and 2nd place have not been confirmed and neither the prize money nor the bracelet have been officially…
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) June 26, 2025
ClubWPT Gold Promotion At Center Of Scandal
On the surface, there’s no incentive for Carroll to lose the match to Yaginuma intentionally. He had nearly all of the chips in play, which makes him a favorite to win the $1.255 million first-place prize.
But ClubWPT Gold, an online poker room using the sweepstakes casino model to operate in the U.S., ran a promotion that would give Yaginuma an additional $1 million if he won the event.
Anyone who earned a ClubWPT Gold gold rush ticket would get an extra $1 million if they won a World Series of Poker bracelet this summer.
Just a few weeks ago, New Jersey pro Mike Lavin won the $1,500 no-limit hold’em shootout for $267,373, but was also the owner of a gold rush ticket, netting him an extra $1 million on top.
Players could earn tickets in plenty of ways. Yaginuma earned his by winning a nacho-eating competition sponsored by ClubWPT Gold.
But that money would only be paid out if Yaginuma won the event. Thus, social media was buzzing with theories about how a backroom deal could easily be made to split up prize money and allow both players to walk away with more than what either player could make just by winning the event.
ClubWPT Appears Willing To Pay Yaginuma
While the WSOP is withholding payment and investigating the matter, ClubWPT Gold is taking a different approach.
The company’s Twitter/X page has several posts about Yaginuma winning the additional figures. One even congratulated the Maryland native’s score.
THIS PLAYER MIGHT WIN $1,000,000 TODAY BECAUSE OF NACHOS 🧀😳 pic.twitter.com/XxPfbNG1mQ
— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) June 25, 2025
WE JUST GAVE AWAY ANOTHER $1,000,000 🤯🤑
GOLD RUSH TICKET WINNER WITH THE CRAZY COMEBACK🚨
CONGRATS @JesseYagz 🙌 pic.twitter.com/mchMZA0ySG
— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) June 26, 2025
On the other hand, the WSOP deleted tweets stating Carroll was eliminated in second for more than $1 million and Yaginuma winning the other $1.255 million.
The WSOP+ app has Yaginuma listed as the champion and Carroll as the runner-up.
Players Call For Deal-Making Ability
First, social media was buzzing with the possible chip-dumping controversy. Then, it became fertile ground for players to criticize the WSOP’s longstanding rule of not facilitating chops.
Please do not punish the players cuz it’s the easiest thing to do for better optics. Instead facilitate better playing environment for players.Focus on streamlining deal making. Players are playing for huge amounts of money, have clear cut rules and regulations for all…
— Nipun Java (@nipunjava) June 26, 2025
However, a change in the WSOP rules regarding deal-making wouldn’t have changed anything in this situation. This had nothing to do with chopping the remaining prize pool and everything to do with a payout from a third-party’s promotion.
It’s also important to note that not a single accusation of collusion prior to heads-up play. It doesn’t appear that anyone else’s equity in the tournament was affected.
What Would Happen To The Prize Money In Case Of DQ?
The WSOP stated they haven’t paid out either of the top two finishers yet. And if they decide that the two colluded, they would then have the right to disqualify both players.
Those two players took home nearly $2.3 million of the more than $15.9 million in the prize pool.
Last November, WSOP officials disqualified the winner of an online event. As a result, everyone moved up a spot and received the new, larger payout. But the bracelet was not awarded to anyone in the field.
If the WSOP takes the same approach in the event of a disqualification, it could mean everyone moves up two spots. For third-place finisher Josh Reichard, that could be an additional $533,000.
Poker pro and YouTuber Doug Polk released a video today detailing the events and incentives for the controversy.
