Alleged collusion in the final heads-up battle caused severe backlash from poker players
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has delivered a decision that’s rattled the poker world. Following intense scrutiny over how the $1,500 Millionaire Maker tournament ended, the WSOP has opted to withhold the bracelet usually awarded to the event’s champion. While the prize money will be paid out in full, the symbolic hardware — a coveted piece of poker history — will not be handed out.
The controversy centers on the final heads-up match between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll. Though Carroll entered the duel with a dominant chip lead, the sequence of hands that followed raised immediate suspicion.
Analysts and fans flagged multiple plays as uncharacteristic for elite-level poker. This included a fold by Yaginuma with top pair on a limp flop where Carroll held trips and a bold six-high check-raise bluff that seemed almost too well-timed.
The most talked-about factor was a $1 million bonus from ClubWPT Gold, a prize for which Yaginuma was the only eligible winner. That external incentive, many speculated, created a situation where Carroll may have willingly lost to help secure the bonus, possibly with the understanding that they would split it privately. Though there’s no proof of a deal, the optics — paired with unorthodox play — led to an outpouring of criticism.
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
After freezing the payouts and launching an investigation, WSOP concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to void the result entirely. Yaginuma and Carroll will receive their respective winnings — over $1.2 million and $1 million — and Yaginuma will also keep the ClubWPT bonus. But the bracelet, the WSOP’s most meaningful symbol of victory, will not be awarded.
Poker fans and pros alike are split. While some call the move necessary to uphold the event’s integrity, others believe it sets a murky precedent. For Yaginuma, it’s a win without the validation. For the WSOP, it’s a rare and public effort to protect the legacy of the game.
