(Image: PokerNews/Reproduction)
It was the year 2025 when the final table of Event #53 of the World Series Of Poker (WSOP): US$1,500 Millionaire Maker was being played. Players Jesse Yaginuma 
In the definition of this tournament, there was an external factor that absolutely conditioned everything. One of the finalists had qualified for the tournament thanks to a promotion from the ClubWPT Gold room. That promotion gave US$1,000,000 to whoever was able to win a WSOP tournament after qualifying through the room’s satellites. And Jesse Yaginuma had qualified that way. In fact, he wore his golden ticket with pride on his clothes.
Jesse Yaginuma With His Golden Ticket On His Chest
James Carroll, for his part, did not have such a ticket, so the only one who could unlock that extra million was Yaginuma. Things got interesting when they reached the heads-up between the two of them. Initially, Carroll arrived with a substantial 9 to 1 chip lead, something that, while not guaranteeing victory, made him the clear favorite over his opponent.
Read also: GGPoker Has Active Giveaways In February With 18 Million
Before starting the heads-up, the players took a particularly long break to “prepare” before the definition. In the first hands, no one noticed anything strange. But, at one point, strange plays began to occur. Striking betting patterns, cards not shown to the cameras, and folds that made no sense at all began to be increasingly frequent, until the suspicion of collusion became undeniable.
Finally, after an incredible sequence of nonsensical hands that aroused the suspicions of everyone present, Yaginuma turned the heads-up around and ended up winning the tournament. Although the situation was never clarified, the development of the heads-up went down in history as one of the most strange and suspicious in history.
Read also: What’s Happening With Poker In Macau? Another Room Has Closed
