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The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has put the brakes on crowning Jesse Yaginuma the official winner of Event #53: $1,500 Millionaire Maker, after suspicions of chip dumping during heads-up play triggered an internal investigation.

Yaginuma had battled through a staggering 11,996-player field and was poised to pocket a $1,255,180 first-place payout, along with a $1 million promotional bonus courtesy of ClubWPT Gold. But that victory and payday, is now in limbo after poker fans and pros alike raised eyebrows over how the final duel played out.

A $1M Bonus and a 10-1 Collapse
Yaginuma's opponent, James Carroll, entered heads-up action with a towering 10-to-1 chip lead - a statistical edge that makes a comeback win rare, if not miraculous. Yet within a matter of hands, the tides turned in Yaginuma's favor. And while one key hand featured a standard bad beat, several others left experienced viewers scratching their heads.

The timing of the reversal was particularly suspect given the high stakes surrounding ClubWPT Gold's summer promotion. Players who qualified for certain bracelet events through the sweepstakes site had a shot at a $1 million bonus if they won. Michael Lavin previously hit that jackpot by shipping the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout event.

Yaginuma looked like the second such storybook winner - potentially hauling in over $2.2 million - until the WSOP intervened.

Investigation Underway, Prizes on Hold
"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 awarded," WSOP announced via Twitter on Thursday, June 26.

At issue is whether chip dumping, the act of deliberately transferring chips to another player, took place. If so, the intention might have been to secure Yaginuma the title and the accompanying ClubWPT bonus.

WSOP rules are explicit: "Poker is an individual game... Chip dumping and other forms of collusion will result in disqualification."

Adding to the intrigue, ClubWPT Gold has also launched its own review. A representative confirmed to PokerNews that the platform is "looking into the matter."

Doug Polk Weighs In - Kind Of
Poker personality and ClubWPT Gold ambassador Doug Polk discussed the allegations on his YouTube channel, claiming a source informed him the $1 million bonus would be paid to Yaginuma "regardless of the outcome of the investigation." When PokerNews reached out for comment, Polk kept it characteristically cheeky: "Don't forget to use Code Doug."

Community Reaction Split
Before the final heads-up session, both Yaginuma and Carroll took an unusually long break - another detail fueling online speculation. While many in the poker world have called foul, some players defended the alleged arrangement, arguing that if both parties agreed and no one else was harmed, it's a victimless move.

Still, the WSOP isn't taking it lightly. With millions on the line and the integrity of the game at stake, this Millionaire Maker finale may yet be decided in the court of poker opinion - or by WSOP's rulebook.

Source: https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2025-wsop/news/wsop-investigating-chip-dumping-allegations-47963.htm