Is This the Craziest Scandal in World Series of Poker History? | PokerNews Podcast #902
In the 902nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz do an emergency show to discuss the industry-shaking collusion controversy that stemmed from the heads-up match between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Millionaire Maker. Not only were seven-figure prizes up for grabs, but there was also a $1,000,000 bonus if Yaginuma were to win thanks to an outside promotion.
That fact made a big impact on what allegedly went down. Find out what happened, what fans and players are saying, and whether or not ClubWPT Gold will award the $1,000,000 bonus. Also, the WSOP did issue a statement and has yet to finalize the results of the tournament. What might happen next is anyone's guess, but Chad and Mike discuss some potential scenarios.
A new PokerNews Podcast will drop twice a week during the 2025 WSOP every Thursday and Sunday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Did Chip Dumping Occur with $1 Million Bonus at Stake During WSOP Final Table?
Time Stamps
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | Welcome to the show |
| 00:20 | Collusion controversy in 2025 WSOP Millionaire Maker |
| 00:40 | Mike’s take on the situation |
| 02:22 | Polarizing reactions |
| 03:56 | Backroom deals happen all the time |
| 05:15 | Reviewing every single heads-up hand |
| 06:22 | WSOP releases statement |
| 08:42 | Controversial PLO hand |
| 10:10 | ClubWPT Gold is a disruptor |
| 13:20 | What could happen next? |
| 16:00 | Protecting the allure of the bracelet |
| 19:04 | Examples of bracelets being bought |
| 23:16 | Should the WSOP allow deal-making? |
| 28:14 | ClubWPT Gold to award $1,000,000 |
| 31:50 | Need to protect against cheating |
| 32:52 | Be patient with the WSOP |
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