Historic Decision Made: WSOP Abandons bracelet for Major Controversy-Ridden Event, No Winner Declared
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has taken a historic step by withholding the gold bracelet award for the Millionaire Maker event in the 2025 series, following an investigation into allegations of chip dumping and an unauthorized deal during the final table.
The WSOP, in a statement released at 8.20pm PT on Monday evening, announced the results of its investigation. The investigation was prompted by concerns that one player, Jesse Yaginuma, overcame a large chip deficit possibly aided by James Carroll, who folded too easily in key spots. This raised questions about fairness and integrity, as Carroll may have intentionally contributed chips to Yaginuma.
The WSOP's rules explicitly prohibit chip dumping, a form of collusion that violates tournament integrity. Similarly, deals (agreements dividing prize money among players) are allowed but must be transparent and approved by tournament directors to ensure fairness and compliance with WSOP regulations.
As a result of the investigation, no gold bracelet was awarded for WSOP Event 53 (Millionaire Maker). Both Yaginuma and Carroll were banned from future WSOP events due to the chip dumping and unauthorized deal. However, Yaginuma was allowed to keep the $1 million first-place cash prize, indicating that prize money, which is contractual, is separate from the symbolic bracelet award.
The incident has sparked discussions about transparency in deal negotiations and stricter enforcement of rules on chip dumping at major tournaments. The World Poker Federation's latest summit aims to unify and standardize these rules across the global poker scene to avoid similar situations.
Despite the controversy, the first- and second-place prize money for WSOP Event 53 will be split between players Yaginuma and Carroll. The remaining prize pool from the event will be distributed to the final two players.
PokerOrg reported that Yaginuma, after the tournament, acknowledged the rules may need to be modified or clarified to prevent similar situations in the future. The integrity of the game and the official WSOP Tournament Rules were factors in the decision not to award a winner or bracelet for WSOP Event 53.
This incident marks a significant moment in the history of the WSOP, underscoring the importance of upholding tournament integrity and adhering to the rules. The WSOP has reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair play and maintaining the prestige of its events.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has reiterated its commitment to sports that uphold fair play, following an investigation into alleged chip dumping and an unauthorized deal during WSOP Event 53 (Millionaire Maker).
The WSOP has emphasized the importance of adhering to its rules, particularly those prohibiting chip dumping and requiring transparency in deal negotiations, to maintain the prestige of its events and the integrity of the game.
