Two heads-up finalists allegedly made a deal to ensure one would be the winner
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is facing scrutiny after controversy erupted during the final moments of the $1,500 Millionaire Maker event. Jesse Yaginuma claimed the title and a $1 million bonus courtesy of WPT Club Gold. But what should have been a career-defining win quickly raised questions about possible soft play or deal-making during heads-up action.
Yaginuma faced James Carroll with a chip disadvantage going into the final showdown. Despite that, he avoided elimination and began to chip away at Carroll’s stack. Observers flagged several moments as unusual. Carroll was seen raising-folding repeatedly, even with marginal hands, and in one case shoved all-in with pocket aces — a play seen by some as too transparent. Speculation swirled online that Carroll was not playing to win, but to help Yaginuma secure the bonus.
Fueling the discussion is the detail that Yaginuma was the only finalist eligible for the WPT Club Gold $1 million bonus. With just two players left, an informal deal to split the bonus could have been tempting, particularly without any rules explicitly forbidding such arrangements behind the scenes.
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
The WSOP responded swiftly, stating the bracelet and prize money were being withheld pending an investigation. While the poker community is sharply divided, some argue that if both players agree to share the winnings privately and no other players are harmed, it doesn’t qualify as collusion in the traditional sense.
Deal-making is common in major poker events, and most tours allow players to negotiate prize splits openly. The WSOP, however, has historically prohibited this, which critics say leads to secretive arrangements and opens the door for controversy.
Whether or not any formal rules were broken remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: this situation has reignited debate over transparency in high-stakes poker and whether the WSOP should modernize its stance on final table deals.
