WSOP Investigates Collusion Claims in Millionaire Maker Final Tournament
In the world of poker, the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #53, the $1,500 Millionaire Maker, has been shrouded in controversy following allegations of chip dumping during the heads-up final between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll.
The suspicions arose from Carroll's seemingly unusual folds to Yaginuma's re-raises and all-in plays, which led to accusations of collusion and unfair play on social media platforms. These allegations gained traction as Carroll, a seasoned professional with two WPT titles and two WSOP Circuit rings, appeared to fold repeatedly to preflop raises where calling would have been optimal.
In response to these "eyebrow-raising" hands, WSOP officials initiated an investigation. The outcome of this investigation was significant: no winner would be crowned, no bracelet awarded, and the prize pool would be split evenly between the two finalists. Although they still received their monetary paydays, Carroll and Yaginuma lost the official glory of the title.
This decision reflected concerns that Carroll’s folds facilitated Yaginuma’s chip comeback, effectively skewing the competitive integrity of the match. The heads-up prize pool for the "Millionaire Maker" event could have increased from $2.3 million to $3.3 million if Yaginuma had won, but this opportunity was lost due to the investigation.
The scandal generated significant discussion within the poker community. Some commentators and pros called the match an embarrassment, while others argued the evidence was circumstantial, pointing out that chip dynamics and strategic passivity can sometimes explain such plays, especially in heads-up formats where chip stacks can fluctuate dramatically.
Notably, prominent poker figures such as Daniel Negreanu publicly addressed the scandal, emphasising how it affected the WSOP’s reputation despite no direct involvement by the organization itself.
As of early August 2025, the current status is that WSOP's ruling is final: no bracelet and split prize, effectively closing the matter officially but leaving ongoing debate among players and fans regarding ethics and enforcement in such situations. There have been lifetime bans issued, underscoring the seriousness with which WSOP views such conduct.
The ClubWPT Gold promotion, which awards a $1 million bonus to ticket holders who go on to win one of 11 designated events, including the Millionaire Maker, adds another layer to the story. Jesse Yaginuma, who won the "Millionaire Maker" event on June 27, 2025, stands to earn a $1 million bonus in addition to the $1,255,180 first-place prize. However, the first and second-place payouts for the "Millionaire Maker" event have been withheld pending the official investigation.
References:
- PokerNews
- PokerGuru
- Twitter: Daniel Negreanu
- PokerStrategy
- Despite the controversy surrounding the $1,500 Millionaire Maker Final of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #53, Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll are still in line to receive their monetary paydays.
- The poker community has been abuzz with discussions about the alleged collusion between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll during the Millionaire Maker Final, with some commentators deeming it an embarrassment for the WSOP.
- WSOP investigation confirmed chip dumping allegations between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll during the Millionaire Maker Final, resulting in no winner being crowned and the prize pool being split evenly between the two finalists.
- With the current status being that WSOP's ruling is final, WSOP views chip dumping and collusion in poker games as a serious offense, as demonstrated by the lifetime bans issued to repeat offenders.
- Jesse Yaginuma stands to earn an additional $1 million bonus from the ClubWPT Gold promotion if he goes on to win one of the 11 designated events, including the Millionaire Maker, but first and second-place payouts for the Millionaire Maker event have been withheld pending the official investigation.
