The 2025 Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker has already delivered eight action packed events and a steady buzz inside Planet Hollywood.
The fields have been healthy, the storylines have been fun and the trophy winners have ranged from rising mixed game grinders to a Poker Hall of Famer.
With the first Championship event about to begin, here is how the series stands so far:
Event
Entries
Prize Pool
Winner
Prize
$600 Limit Omaha 8 or Better
68
$35,020
Qinghai Pan
$7,380
$600 Limit O8 / Stud 8 Mix
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 Limit T.O.E.
90
$46,350
Paul Holder
$12,864
$600 Triple Stud
51
$26,265
Eli Elezra
$8,614
Across eight tournaments, the festival has drawn a total of 618 entries, generated $319,180 in prize pools and awarded $86,016 to event champions alone.
The momentum has been building every day, and with the Championship events now about to begin, the race for the CMSOP Player of the Series title is wide open behind runaway leader Stephen Godfrey.
The Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker (CMSOP) has been pulling strong numbers all week, but on Sunday it pulled something even bigger into Planet Hollywood: a Poker Hall of Famer.
Eli Elezra, one of the most decorated mixed game players of all time, made his CMSOP debut and promptly showed everyone why he is considered poker royalty. Elezra topped the 51 entry field in Event #8: $600 Triple Stud to collect $8,614 and his first tournament win in two years.
Eli Elezra
The five time WSOP bracelet winner, high stakes cash game legend and long time fan favourite has almost $6 million in tournament earnings, yet this was just his second recorded cash of 2025. His first came only a week ago when he finished third in the $5,300 8 Game event at the NAPT for $28,350. The payday at CMSOP may have been smaller, but it came with something he has not added to the shelf since 2023, a first place finish and a shiny new Chainsaw trophy.
Runner up Matthew Kelley took a big step forward from his 13th place finish in the $600 T.O.E. by banking $5,387 for second place.
Thomas Taylor continued his incredible consistency with a third place result for $3,575. The finish marked his fourth cash of the series and pushed him into third place on the overall leaderboard. Taylor now has a runner up, third, fourth and ninth place finish, making him one of the performers of the festival.
Nicolas Milgrom picked up his third cash of the series by finishing fifth. He sits in 23rd on the CMSOP leaderboard and will likely need a couple of deep championship runs to challenge for a leaderboard prize.
There were also several first time CMSOP cashers in the money, including Aaron Lashlee, Ali Heims, Michael Berger and John Zaleski.
Event #8 Payouts
Place
Player
Prize
1
Eli Elezra
$8,614
2
Matthew Kelley
$5,387
3
Thomas Taylor
$3,575
4
Aaron Lashlee
$2,529
5
Nicolas Milgrom
$1,915
6
Ali Heims
$1,558
7
Michael Berger
$1,371
8
John Zaleski
$1,316
Event #8 Final Table
Updated CMSOP Leaderboard After Eight Events
Triple Stud did not change the very top of the standings. Stephen Godfrey and Ziad Zebib both remain in first and second place.
The key mover was Taylor, whose podium finish vaulted him into third place. Edward Spivack and Paul Holder round out the top five.
Place
Player
Points
Wins
FTs
Cashes
1
Stephen Godfrey
24,719
2
4
4
2
Ziad Zebib
18,226
1
2
2
3
Thomas Taylor
17,045
0
3
4
4
Edward Spivack
14,177
1
1
3
5
Paul Holder
12,864
1
1
1
6
Adam Walter
12,281
0
2
3
7
Carol Anderson
12,056
0
2
3
8
Leonard August
11,000
1
1
1
9
Qinghai Pan
9,830
1
1
3
10
Adam Kipnis
9,379
0
1
1
CMSOP Player of the Series Leaderboard Prizes
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
What’s Next: $1,100 Omaha 8 or Better Championship
CMSOP moves into its final stretch on Monday, November 17, with the first of three Championship events.
The $1,100 Limit Omaha 8 or Better Championship gets underway at 11 a.m. local time, giving players a full day of split-pot action.
The Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker steps up in stakes on Monday, November 17, as the first Championship event of the festival gets underway. The $1,100 Omaha Eight or Better Championship begins at 11 a.m. local time and marks the start of the final stretch of the series.
Players receive 40,000 starting chips and will play 40 minute levels throughout Day 1. Registration remains open until the end of Level 12, which is expected to close at approximately 9 p.m. This is a two day event, with the champion set to be crowned on Tuesday.
The Omaha Eight or Better Championship is the first of three CMSOP Championship tournaments on the schedule. It will be followed by the Limit H.O.R.S.E. Championship and the T.O.R.S.E. Championship later in the week.
PokerNews will have live reporting for Day 2 so readers can stay on top of all eliminations, chip counts and key hands as the first major title of the festival is awarded.
Paul Holder made his first appearance on the Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker (CMSOP) payout sheet a memorable one, winning Event #7: $600 Limit T.O.E. inside Planet Hollywood. Holder topped a 90 entry field to claim the $12,864 first place prize from a $46,350 prize pool and jumped straight into fifth place on the CMSOP leaderboard.
The T.O.E. rotation of 2-7 Triple Draw, Omaha Eight or Better and Stud Eight or Better attracted another strong turnout from mixed game regulars and leaderboard contenders.
Runner up Carol Anderson continued her excellent festival run with a second final table appearance and her third cash overall, banking $8,222. Anderson now sits on 12,056 points and has positioned herself to challenge for a CMSOP leaderboard prize with five events still remaining. Winning the overall title may be ambitious given the gap to the top, but a top five finish is firmly within reach.
Nicholas Pupillo finished in third place for $5,488. It was his first cash of the series.
The biggest mover in the top ten was Holder, whose victory pushed him into fifth place while nudging Adam Walter down one spot. Walter did not cash in Event #7 but remains in a solid position with 12,281 points.
At the top of the standings, Stephen Godfrey continues to lead comfortably with 24,719 points after two wins and four final tables. Behind him, Ziad Zebib, Edward Spivack and Thomas Taylor all remain tightly packed in the chase spots.
The top 14 players reached the money. Notable mixed game names such as Jeff Madsen, Hami Awad and Sami Bechahed all added CMSOP points to their totals.
Event #7 Payouts
Place
Player
Prize
1
Paul Holder
$12,864
2
Carol Anderson
$8,222
3
Nicholas Pupillo
$5,488
4
Tracy Albee
$3,824
5
Christopher Bond
$2,790
6
Jeff Madsen
$2,137
7
Joshua Chudnovsky
$1,720
8
Sami Bechahed
$1,460
9
Hani Awad
$1,460
10
Stephanie Anderson
$1,316
11
Clifford Fisher
$1,316
12
Marlon Dubery
$1,251
13
Matthew Kelley
$1,251
14
Carl Buckland
$1,251
Event #7 Final Table
Updated CMSOP Leaderboard Top 10 After Seven Events
Holder’s win moves him into fifth place, while Anderson climbs to seventh. The top of the leaderboard remains unchanged, with Godfrey well ahead of the field.
Place
Player
Points
Wins
FTs
Cashes
1
Stephen Godfrey
24,719
2
4
4
2
Ziad Zebib
18,226
1
2
2
3
Edward Spivack
14,177
1
1
3
4
Thomas Taylor
13,469
0
2
3
5
Paul Holder
12,864
1
1
1
6
Adam Walter
12,281
0
2
3
7
Carol Anderson
12,056
0
2
3
8
Leonard August
11,000
1
1
1
9
Qinghai Pan
9,830
1
1
3
10
Adam Kipnis
9,379
0
1
1
CMSOP Player of the Series Leaderboard Prizes
Players who cash in any CMSOP event will earn points toward the CMSOP Player of the Series (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
What’s Next: $600 Limit Triple Stud
The CMSOP continues on Sunday, November 16, with the return of the $600 Limit Triple Stud event.
Ziad Zebib conquered the biggest field of the 2025 Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker so far, winning Event #6: $600 Mixed Triple Draw after topping 106 entries inside Planet Hollywood.
Zebib collected $14,549 from the $54,590 prize pool and jumped into second place on the CMSOP leaderboard.
The win was Zebib’s second cash of the festival and his strongest performance yet, putting him behind only two-time champion Stephen Godfrey in the overall standings. The victory also pushed former second place Edward Spivack down to third.
Runner up Adam Kipnis earned $9,379 in his first cash of the series, while Mark Gregorich continued his solid week with a third place finish for $6,283, securing his second final table of the festival.
Thomas Taylor kept his momentum rolling with a fourth place finish that moved him firmly into the top five of the leaderboard. Taylor is one of the most consistent performers so far, having also finished runner up in the Big O event earlier in the week.
Adam Walter picked up a min cash worth $1,272 to remain inside the top five overall, continuing his steady and reliable run at the CMSOP.
The top 16 players reached the money in Event #6. Series founder Allen Kessler narrowly missed out after being eliminated by David Bach. Bach used those chips to survive the money bubble but became the first player knocked out once the field was in the money.
Event #6 Payouts
Place
Name
Prize
1
Ziad Zebib
$14,549
2
Adam Kipnis
$9,379
3
Mark Gregorich
$6,283
4
Thomas Taylor
$4,384
5
Carol Fuchs
$3,188
6
Frank Athey
$2,418
7
Jeffrey Cheezum
$1,922
8
Joel Alpert
$1,605
9
Richard Monogian
$1,605
10
Christopher Bond
$1,408
11
Aaron Foust
$1,408
12
Neil La Barge
$1,299
13
Tracey Hill
$1,299
14
Carol Anderson
$1,299
15
Adam Walter
$1,272
16
David Bach
$1,272
Event #6 Final Table
CMSOP Player of the Series Leaderboard Prizes
Players who cash in any CMSOP event will earn points toward theCMSOP Player of the Series (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
What’s Next: $600 Limit T.O.E.
The CMSOP continues on Saturday, November 15, with the return of the $600 Limit T.O.E. event. Cards are in the air at 11 a.m., and players start with 40,000 chips and 30 minute levels.
T.O.E. is a three game rotation featuring:
2-7 Triple Draw
Omaha Hi Low Eight or Better
Stud Eight or Better
Late registration remains open for 12 levels and is expected to close at approximately 6 p.m.
