Allen Kessler

Allen Kessler

aka "Chainsaw"
Nationality
United States
United States
GPI Rank 1,349
Total Live Earnings $4,388,071
The Hendon Mob 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
2024 RGPS Destination RunGood Thunder Valley
$2,500 Main Event
32nd $5,020
2024 World Series of Poker
Event #46: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Championship
629th $2,270
2024 World Series of Poker
Event #29: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship (6-Handed)
10th $28,060
2024 World Series of Poker
Event #27: $1,500 Big O
206th $3,002
2024 World Series of Poker
Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed)
123rd $3,003
2023 WSOP Paradise
Event #1: $1,500 Mystery Millions
304th $2,100
2023 RGPS Checkpoint Thunder Valley
Million Dollar Main Event
48th $4,245
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #95: $1,000 Super Turbo No-Limit Hold'em
197th $1,601
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship
1381st $15,000
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #91: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.
44th $4,873
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #80: $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. High Roller
14th $41,869
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #70: $400 Colossus
1794th $700
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #66: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
70th $3,853
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #48: $1,000 Seniors Championship
203rd $5,138
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #45: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
102nd $3,011
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #41: $1,500 Big O
119th $3,008
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #38: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Championship
18th $16,378
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #30: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
9th $11,849
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #27: $1,500 Eight Game Mix
86th $2,632
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #24: $1,500 Razz
59th $2,634
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #9: $1,500 Seven Card Stud
34th $3,051
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions
1301st $1,678
2022 World Series of Poker
Event #63: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
11th $41,178
2022 World Series of Poker
Event #48: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed
21st $7,170
2022 World Series of Poker
Event #21: $1,500 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em
661st $2,625
2022 World Series of Poker
Event #20: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw
35th $3,026
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #52: $1,000 Seniors Championship
144th $4,530
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #35: $500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em
344th $876
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #32: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.
32nd $5,269
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #27: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E
71st $2,625
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #17: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER No-Limit Hold'em
290th $4,360
2021 MSPT Showdown Series
MSPT Sycuan $1,110 Main Event
57th $2,486
2020 WSOP.com Online Bracelet Events
Event #31: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship
262nd $1,818
2020 WSOP.com Online Bracelet Events
Event #24: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed
325th $694
2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Potawatomi
$1,700 Main Event
46th $3,067
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Las Vegas
$1,700 Main Event
16th $9,450
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant
$1,700 Main Event
54th $4,089
2019 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #11: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha
33rd €3,210
2019 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #3: €1,350 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em
89th €1,858
2019 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #1: €350 Opener No-Limit Hold'em
62nd €783
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
$1,700 Main Event
87th $2,761
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley
$1,700 Main Event
34th $2,940
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant
Main Event
87th $2,900
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #73: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship
320th $38,240
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #80: $1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha
86th $2,928
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #56: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty
147th $1,762
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #42: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em / Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack
329th $875
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix
5th $34,329
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #3: BIG 50 - $500 No-Limit Hold'em
4008th $750
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #7: $400 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold'em
253rd $814
2019 Seminole Hard Rock May Deep Stack Poker Series
$1,650 Deepest Stack NLH
4th $40,540
2019 Heartland Poker Tour St. Louis
Main Event
30th $4,199
2018 Caribbean Poker Party
$1,100 Finale
112th $3,000
2018 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #10: €10,350 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
40th €23,025
2018 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #7: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed
16th €4,034
2018 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #1: €550 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold'em
52nd €3,635
2018 WinStar River Poker Series
Main Event
89th $4,460
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #75: $1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels) - $1 Million Guarantee
36th $16,392
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #76: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.
52nd $4,462
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #73: $1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels)
142nd $1,571
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #56: $10,000 Razz Championship
9th $25,664
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #29: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw
49th $2,243
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #21: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em MILLIONAIRE MAKER
932nd $2,468
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #12: $1,500 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed
60th $2,263
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
75th $2,823
2017 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #8: €1,111 Little One for One Drop No-Limit Hold'em
118th €1,660
2017 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #6: €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha
2nd €57,897
2017 World Series of Poker Europe
Event #1: €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em MONSTER STACK
51st €2,065
2017 WinStar River Poker Series
Main Event
77th $5,245
2017 World Series of Poker
Event #19: THE GIANT - $365 No-Limit Hold'em
1318th $558
2017 World Series of Poker
Event #69: $1,500 Razz
62nd $2,261
2017 World Series of Poker
Event #40: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better
39th $3,550
2017 World Series of Poker
Event #32: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Mix
18th $7,162
2017 World Series of Poker
Event #16: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed
99th $3,222
2017 PokerStars Championship Bahamas
$5,000 Main Event
64th $11,560
2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
$5,300 Main Event
107th $9,720
2015 Mid-States Poker Tour Tropicana
Main Event
3rd $22,987
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #62: The $1,111 Little One for One Drop
147th $3,560
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #46: $50,000 Poker Players' Championship
8th $134,101
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #19: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
161st $3,154
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #8: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em
121st $8,830
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #6: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
106th $4,411
2014 Mid-States Poker Tour Belle of Baton Rouge
Main Event
8th $3,638
2013 World Series of Poker
Event #42: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em
153rd $2,116
2013 World Series of Poker
Event #36: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
35th $5,555
2013 World Series of Poker
Event #11: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Six Handed)
89th $4,540
2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Main Event
37th $2,490
2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Harrah's Tunica
Main Event
54th $3,337
2012 World Series of Poker
WSOP National Championship
18th $22,278
2012 World Series of Poker
Event 54: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em
80th $4,638
2012 World Series of Poker
Event 50: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em
99th $9,692
2012 World Series of Poker
Event 47: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better
71st $3,697
2012 World Series of Poker
Event 22: $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball
21st $4,782
2012 World Series of Poker
Event 9: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry
138th $4,595
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Horseshoe Council Bluffs
Main Event
15th $6,182
2011 World Series of Poker
Event #57: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better
9th $33,352
2011 World Series of Poker
Event #47: $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better
46th $4,494
2011 World Series of Poker
Event #15: $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em
2nd $140,309
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit - Harrah's New Orleans
Regional Championship
6th $37,736
2010 PokerStars.com EPT London
Main Event
100th £9,000
World Series of Poker Europe 2010
Event #3: £1,075 No-Limit Hold'em
38th £2,747
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #49: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
191st $3,089
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #46: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better
18th $14,455
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #43: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
23rd $21,997
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #38: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship
14th $34,639
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #31: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
13th $10,282
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #15: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship
2nd $276,486
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #7: $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball
17th $7,663
2010 World Series of Poker
Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better
39th $5,124
2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Lake Tahoe
$5,150 Championship Main Event
6th $31,370
2008 World Series of Poker
Event 24 - $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em/Omaha
37th $5,256
2008 World Series of Poker
Event 10 - $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better
31st $4,908
2008 World Series of Poker
Event 6 - $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better
45th $4,093
2007 World Series of Poker
Event 36 - $5,000 Omaha Hi Lo
20th $12,502

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