WSOP probes possible Millionaire Maker collusion

The World Series of Poker is investigating the victor and runner-up successful its $1,500 Millionaire Maker lawsuit that concluded connected Wednesday.

Going into heads-up play astatine Wednesday night's last array of bracelet Event 53, James Carroll commandingly led Jesse Yaginuma with a 9-1 spot lead. Yaginuma completed the comeback to triumph the event, taking location $1.26 million. Carroll earned $1 cardinal for 2nd place.

A comeback of that benignant isn't retired of the question, but the mode successful which the chips exchanged hands raised questions. Many of the hands won by Yaginuma came successful the signifier of raises oregon reraises that were continually not contested by Carroll. Viewers of the event's livestream, including a fig of nonrecreational poker players, began to speculate that Carroll was spot dumping to Yaginuma -- intentionally losing hands to physique up his opponent's stack -- truthful that the 2 could divided immoderate information of the prize money. Unlike galore different poker tourney bid astir the satellite wherever players tin negociate a woody betwixt themselves, it is against the WSOP authoritative rules to enactment successful this manner.

The rules state: "Collusion is defined arsenic immoderate statement betwixt oregon among 2 (2) oregon much Participants to prosecute successful amerciable oregon unethical acts against different Participants. Collusion includes, but is not constricted to, acts specified as: spot dumping; brushed play; sharing paper accusation with different Participant; sending oregon receiving signals from oregon to different Participant; the usage of physics connection with the intent to facilitate collusion; and immoderate different enactment that Host Properties deem inappropriate. 1. Chip dumping is defined arsenic immoderate statement betwixt oregon among 2 (2) oregon much Participants for 1 oregon much of the Participants to stake chips with the intent of expanding different Participant's stack"

Fueling the speculation was an autarkic promotion tally by online poker work ClubWPT Gold, which entailed that players could currency successful antecedently awarded tickets for an further $1 cardinal if they won a qualifying WSOP event. Yaginuma held 1 of those tickets by virtuousness of a contention helium antecedently won, portion Carroll did not.

On Thursday morning, WSOP announced it was investigating the matter.

"Last night, we were made alert of a imaginable breach of the authoritative WSOP Tournament Rules during heads up play successful Event 53," the enactment said successful a release connected societal media. "An probe is underway. At this time, 1st and 2nd spot person not been confirmed and neither the prize wealth nor the bracelet person been officially awarded."

ClubWPT Gold has not yet announced immoderate probe of its own, though congratulated Yaginuma connected societal media. WSOP and ClubWPT Gold did not instantly instrumentality ESPN's petition for comment. Yaginuma denied the allegations of collusion successful a post-win interrogation with Poker.org.

If the triumph is upheld, Yaginuma would beryllium the 2nd subordinate to currency successful connected the ClubWPT Gold promotion aft Michael Lavin won the $1,500 no-limit clasp 'em Shootout earlier successful June. It is besides not determined astatine this clip what would hap to the remainder of the prize wealth if the players were to beryllium disqualified.