Allen Kessler

aka "Chainsaw"

Nationality

GPI Rank 981

Total Live Earnings $4,314,223

Data provided by The Hendon Mob

Biography

Allen Kessler is an American poker player with close to $4 million in career earnings.

He regularly chimes in with poker opinions, appearing in the popular PokerNews segment 'The Chainsaw Report'

Biography

Coming out of college, Kessler took the more conventional route and took a job as an internet marketing executive. The Pennsylvania native eventually ventured to a casino found a new love for poker. With a very analytical and mathematical mind, Kessler began frequenting card rooms in Atlantic City to hone his game.

Initially a cash game player, Kessler moved up the limits before eventually moving to the tournament circuit.

Kessler at the WSOP

In 2001, Kessler had his first WSOP cash in the $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split event. The tournament bug caught Allen with this finish and he began taking shots at tournaments year-round, but cash games were still his bread and butter. A couple years down the road in 2004, Kessler recorded his first tournament win in an event at the Winnin’ o’ the Green out in L.A.

Kessler won one of the Bellagio Weekly Tournaments in March of 2005 for over $45,000 and then placed in two WSOP events that following summer. The latter of those cashes was a second-place finish to Todd Brunson in the $2,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split event for over $132,000.

In 2006, he came away with a win in a $500 No-Limit Hold’em event at the Poker 101 in Las Vegas for over $50,000 just before the World Series kicked off for another year. At the WSOP, he went on to cash four times, including a fourth-place finish for over $75,000. He had a number of five-figure cashes that year and even won an event at the United States Poker Championship.

At the WPT’s Foxwoods Poker Classic in 2007, Kessler found himself at the final table. He wound up going out first to finish in sixth place for $136,452. Kessler looked extremely dejected after losing, but he stuck with the game and wouldn’t give up. In total, he earned over $350,000 that year, topping his earnings from the previous year.

Kessler has cashed over 75 times at the WSOP over his long career. He has finished runner-up for a WSOP bracelet on three occasions in Las Vegas, as well as one other time in Rozvadov, Czech Republic at the WSOP Europe.

In 2010, he finished runner-up to eventual WSOP Player of the Year Frank Kassela in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship.

The following year, he lost out to Brian Rast in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em.

Kessler would have to wait until 2017 for his next close shave with a bracelet, finishing second in the €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha event at King's Resort in Rozvadov against Lukas Zaskodny.

PokerNews Covered Events

Event	Place	Prize
2023 WSOP Paradise Event #1: $1,500 Mystery Millions	304^th	$2,100
2023 RGPS Checkpoint Thunder Valley Million Dollar Main Event	48^th	$4,245
2023 World Series of Poker Event #95: $1,000 Super Turbo No-Limit Hold'em	197^th	$1,601
2023 World Series of Poker Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship	1381^st	$15,000
2023 World Series of Poker Event #91: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.	44^th	$4,873
2023 World Series of Poker Event #80: $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. High Roller	14^th	$41,869
2023 World Series of Poker Event #70: $400 Colossus	1794^th	$700
2023 World Series of Poker Event #66: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better	70^th	$3,853
2023 World Series of Poker Event #48: $1,000 Seniors Championship	203^rd	$5,138
2023 World Series of Poker Event #45: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better	102^nd	$3,011
2023 World Series of Poker Event #41: $1,500 Big O	119^th	$3,008
2023 World Series of Poker Event #38: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Championship	18^th	$16,378
2023 World Series of Poker Event #30: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw	9^th	$11,849
2023 World Series of Poker Event #27: $1,500 Eight Game Mix	86^th	$2,632
2023 World Series of Poker Event #24: $1,500 Razz	59^th	$2,634
2023 World Series of Poker Event #9: $1,500 Seven Card Stud	34^th	$3,051
2023 World Series of Poker Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions	1301^st	$1,678
2022 World Series of Poker Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship	11^th	$41,178
2022 World Series of Poker Event #48: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed	21^st	$7,170
2022 World Series of Poker Event #21: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em	661^st	$2,625
2022 World Series of Poker Event #20: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw	35^th	$3,026
2021 World Series of Poker Event #52: $1,000 Seniors Championship	144^th	$4,530
2021 World Series of Poker Event #35: $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em	344^th	$876
2021 World Series of Poker Event #32: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.	32^nd	$5,269
2021 World Series of Poker Event #27: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E	71^st	$2,625
2021 World Series of Poker Event #17: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER No-Limit Hold'em	290^th	$4,360
2021 MSPT Showdown Series MSPT Sycuan $1,110 Main Event	57^th	$2,486
2020 WSOP.com Online Bracelet Events Event #31: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship	262^nd	$1,818
2020 WSOP.com Online Bracelet Events Event #24: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed	325^th	$694
2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Potawatomi $1,700 Main Event	46^th	$3,067
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Las Vegas $1,700 Main Event	16^th	$9,450
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant $1,700 Main Event	54^th	$4,089
2019 World Series of Poker Europe Event #11: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha	33^rd	€3,210
2019 World Series of Poker Europe Event #3: €1,350 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em	89^th	€1,858
2019 World Series of Poker Europe Event #1: €350 Opener No-Limit Hold'em	62^nd	€783
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Seminole Casino Coconut Creek $1,700 Main Event	87^th	$2,761
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley $1,700 Main Event	34^th	$2,940
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant Main Event	87^th	$2,900
2019 World Series of Poker Event #73: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship	320^th	$38,240
2019 World Series of Poker Event #80: $1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha	86^th	$2,928
2019 World Series of Poker Event #56: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty	147^th	$1,762
2019 World Series of Poker Event #42: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em / Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack	329^th	$875
2019 World Series of Poker Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix	5^th	$34,329
2019 World Series of Poker Event #3: BIG 50 - $500 No-Limit Hold'em	4008^th	$750
2019 World Series of Poker Event #7: $400 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold'em	253^rd	$814
2019 Seminole Hard Rock May Deep Stack Poker Series $1,650 Deepest Stack NLH	4^th	$40,540
2019 Heartland Poker Tour St. Louis Main Event	30^th	$4,199
2018 Caribbean Poker Party $1,100 Finale	112^th	$3,000
2018 World Series of Poker Europe Event #10: €10,350 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event	40^th	€23,025
2018 World Series of Poker Europe Event #7: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed	16^th	€4,034
2018 World Series of Poker Europe Event #1: €550 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold'em	52^nd	€3,635
2018 WinStar River Poker Series Main Event	89^th	$4,460
2018 World Series of Poker Event #75: $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels) - $1 Million Guarantee	36^th	$16,392
2018 World Series of Poker Event #76: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.	52^nd	$4,462
2018 World Series of Poker Event #73: $1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels)	142^nd	$1,571
2018 World Series of Poker Event #56: $10,000 Razz Championship	9^th	$25,664
2018 World Series of Poker Event #29: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw	49^th	$2,243
2018 World Series of Poker Event #21: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em MILLIONAIRE MAKER	932^nd	$2,468
2018 World Series of Poker Event #12: $1,500 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed	60^th	$2,263
2018 World Series of Poker Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better	75^th	$2,823
2017 World Series of Poker Europe Event #8: €1,111 Little One for One Drop No-Limit Hold'em	118^th	€1,660
2017 World Series of Poker Europe Event #6: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha	2^nd	€57,897
2017 World Series of Poker Europe Event #1: €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em MONSTER STACK	51^st	€2,065
2017 WinStar River Poker Series Main Event	77^th	$5,245
2017 World Series of Poker Event #19: THE GIANT - $365 No-Limit Hold'em	1318^th	$558
2017 World Series of Poker Event #69: $1,500 Razz	62^nd	$2,261
2017 World Series of Poker Event #40: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better	39^th	$3,550
2017 World Series of Poker Event #32: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Mix	18^th	$7,162
2017 World Series of Poker Event #16: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed	99^th	$3,222
2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas $5,000 Main Event	64^th	$11,560
2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $5,300 Main Event	107^th	$9,720
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Tropicana Main Event	3^rd	$22,987
2014 World Series of Poker Event #62: The $1,111 Little One for One Drop	147^th	$3,560
2014 World Series of Poker Event #46: $50,000 Poker Players' Championship	8^th	$134,101
2014 World Series of Poker Event #19: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em	161^st	$3,154
2014 World Series of Poker Event #8: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em	121^st	$8,830
2014 World Series of Poker Event #6: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout	106^th	$4,411
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge Main Event	8^th	$3,638
2013 World Series of Poker Event #42: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em	153^rd	$2,116
2013 World Series of Poker Event #36: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout	35^th	$5,555
2013 World Series of Poker Event #11: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Six Handed)	89^th	$4,540
2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event	37^th	$2,490
2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's Tunica Main Event	54^th	$3,337
2012 World Series of Poker WSOP National Championship	18^th	$22,278
2012 World Series of Poker Event 54: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em	80^th	$4,638
2012 World Series of Poker Event 50: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em	99^th	$9,692
2012 World Series of Poker Event 47: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better	71^st	$3,697
2012 World Series of Poker Event 22: $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball	21^st	$4,782
2012 World Series of Poker Event 9: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry	138^th	$4,595
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event	15^th	$6,182
2011 World Series of Poker Event #57: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better	9^th	$33,352
2011 World Series of Poker Event #47: $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better	46^th	$4,494
2011 World Series of Poker Event #15: $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em	2^nd	$140,309
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit - Harrah's New Orleans Regional Championship	6^th	$37,736
2010 PokerStars.com EPT London Main Event	100^th	£9,000
World Series of Poker Europe 2010 Event #3: £1,075 No-Limit Hold'em	38^th	£2,747
2010 World Series of Poker Event #49: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em	191^st	$3,089
2010 World Series of Poker Event #46: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better	18^th	$14,455
2010 World Series of Poker Event #43: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship	23^rd	$21,997
2010 World Series of Poker Event #38: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship	14^th	$34,639
2010 World Series of Poker Event #31: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.	13^th	$10,282
2010 World Series of Poker Event #15: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship	2^nd	$276,486
2010 World Series of Poker Event #7: $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball	17^th	$7,663
2010 World Series of Poker Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better	39^th	$5,124
2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Lake Tahoe $5,150 Championship Main Event	6^th	$31,370
2008 World Series of Poker Event 24 - $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em/Omaha	37^th	$5,256
2008 World Series of Poker Event 10 - $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better	31^st	$4,908
2008 World Series of Poker Event 6 - $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better	45^th	$4,093
2007 World Series of Poker Event 36 - $5,000 Omaha Hi Lo	20^th	$12,502

Allen Kessler

Biography

Biography

Kessler at the WSOP

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