How is Allen Kessler Performing at His Own Mixed Games Series?
If there is one thing Allen Kessler loves more than comps and coupons, it's mixed games. That's why he created the Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker (CMSOP), which is enjoying another successful edition at Planet Hollywood.
The series is now two thirds of the way through and has produced strong turnouts along with some of the biggest mixed game prize pools in Las Vegas this month. Across eight tournaments, each featuring Kessler-approved structures, the festival has drawn 618 total entries and generated $319,180 in prize pools, with $86,016 paid to event champions so far.
So the natural question becomes: how much of that has The Chainsaw managed to put in his own pocket?
Kessler Hits a Big (Video) Poker Score
Kessler opened his series with a $1,499 result in the first $600 Limit Omaha 8 or Better tournament, finishing seventh for an $899 profit. The event was won by 2025 WSOP $10K Stud Hi Lo champion Qinghai Pan, who earned $7,380 after a three way deal.
He was unable to take a seat in the next event, the $600 Limit Omaha 8 or Better and Stud 8 or Better, due to illness. That trophy went to Stephen Godfrey, who also banked $7,701.
Kessler fired three bullets across the $600 Limit H.O.R.S.E. and $600 Limit T.O.R.S.E. events but did not find a cash in either one.
He returned to the payout sheet in the $600 Pot Limit Big O for a $1,225 min cash. His two entries meant it was only a $55 return, but the event came with a consolation prize. The Big O tournament outdrew the WSOP H.O.R.S.E. ring event at Commerce on the same day, as noted by attendee Craig Chait.
Kessler then bricked the $600 Mixed Triple Draw, $600 T.O.E. and $600 Triple Stud events, but his luck finally turned, not on the felt but in the gaming pit.
After missing the cash in Mixed Triple Draw, Kessler tried to replicate his last year’s $1.2 million slot jackpot with a few spins on a real-money slot, burning through $2,000 without success. He switched to video poker instead, and on only his second hand was dealt a Royal Flush with multipliers. The result was a $32,000 jackpot hand pay.
While it won't show up on his Hendon Mob page, Kessler still walked away from the day as one of the biggest winners at the CMSOP, even if the profit did not come at the poker table.
CMSOP Winners So Far
| Event | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $600 Limit Omaha 8 or Better | 68 | $35,020 | Qinghai Pan | $7,380 |
| $600 Limit Omaha 8 or Better / Stud 8 or Better | 61 | $31,415 | Stephen Godfrey | $7,701 |
| $600 Limit H.O.R.S.E. | 82 | $42,230 | Leonard August | $11,000 |
| $600 Limit T.O.R.S.E. | 78 | $40,170 | Edward Spivack | $11,650 |
| $600 Pot Limit Big O | 84 | $43,140 | Stephen Godfrey | $12,258 |
| $600 Mixed Triple Draw | 104 | $54,590 | Ziad Zebib | $14,549 |
| $600 T.O.E. | 90 | $46,350 | Paul Holder | $12,864 |
| $600 Triple Stud | 51 | $26,265 | Eli Elezra | $8,614 |
Godfrey Dominating CMSOP Leaderboard
With eight events complete, the race for the CMSOP Player of the Series title is starting to take shape. At the top sits Stephen Godfrey. The Californian has already captured two trophies along with four final table appearances, which has pushed him to 24,719 points and a comfortable lead as the series enters Championship week.
Close behind is Ziad Zebib, who surged into second place with his victory in the 104 entry Mixed Triple Draw event. That $14,549 win vaulted him to 18,226 points and positioned him as the closest challenger to Godfrey.
The biggest climber in recent days has been Thomas Taylor. The Canadian pro has been a model of consistency with four cashes that include second, third, fourth and ninth place finishes. His latest podium result in Triple Stud moved him into third place with 17,045 points and made him the only player besides Godfrey to record four cashes so far.
Rounding out the top five are Edward Spivack, who sits on 14,177 points after winning the Limit T.O.R.S.E. event, and newly crowned T.O.E. winner Paul Holder, who jumped straight into the leaderboard’s upper tier with his $12,864 score.
Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra rocked up on Sunday to win the Triple Stud for $8,614, but will need a few more cashes to threaten the top five.
CMSOP Leaderboard
Players who cash in any CMSOP event will earn points toward the CMSOP Leaderboard. Each dollar won equals one CMSOP point. For example, a $1,000 cash earns 1,000 points.
The top five performers will secure prizes, with the overall CMSOP champion pocketing $3,000 in cash. The runner-up takes home $2,000, while third through fifth place will claim WSOP Circuit entries and additional cash rewards.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,000 Cash |
| 2 | $2,000 Cash |
| 3 | 2x $600 WSOP Circuit entries |
| 4 | $600 WSOP Circuit entry and $100 Cash |
| 5 | $600 WSOP Circuit entry |
Championship Week Hits Planet Hollywood
CMSOP now turns toward its biggest stage as Championship Week begins inside Planet Hollywood. The first of three marquee tournaments, the $1,100 Limit Omaha 8 or Better Championship, gets underway on Monday, November 17 at 11 a.m.
Players start with 40,000 chips and 40 minute levels, and registration remains open through Level 12, which is expected to close at approximately 9 p.m. The event plays to a winner on Tuesday, and PokerNews will provide wall to wall live reporting throughout Day 2 so fans can follow every scoop, quarter and split pot.
Championship Week continues immediately with the $1,100 Limit H.O.R.S.E. Championship on Tuesday and the $1,100 Mixed Games T.O.R.S.E. Championship on Wednesday. Both events feature deep structures and the largest buy ins of the series, creating prime opportunities for dramatic swings on the leaderboard.
The festival wraps on Thursday with the final event of the series, the $600 Limit 2 7 Triple Draw, before the CMSOP Player of the Series title is officially awarded.
CMSOP Schedule
Keep up with all the action in the Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker Hub
