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Allen Kessler, known in poker circles as “The Chainsaw,” closed out a standout summer in Las Vegas with another tournament victory — this time at his very own Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker (CMSOP) at Caesars Palace.
Kessler won the $400 Omaha-Stud event on Thursday, earning $2,725 for the title. The event featured a limit-betting split of Omaha Hi-Lo and Stud Hi-Lo, with Kessler outlasting runner-up Umeme Hoye. Joseph Santagata rounded out the top three for a min-cash of $1,239.
The win adds to what has already been one of Kessler’s best summers on the felt. At the World Series of Poker, he reached two final tables, finishing third in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship for $139,036 and fourth in the $2,500 Limit Mixed Triple Draw Lowball event for $66,103.
While the CMSOP score is far from his largest career cash, Kessler reportedly celebrated with the same enthusiasm he showed after once hitting a $1.2 million slot jackpot.
The CMSOP, named in Kessler’s honor, has become a popular stop for mixed-game specialists, drawing past players such as former WSOP Players of the Year Josh Arieh and Jeff Madsen. The series relocated to Caesars Palace’s newly renovated poker room after last year’s edition was held at the now-closed Planet Hollywood.
Kessler has notched four cashes in five events this series, including a fifth-place finish in $400 Limit H.O.R.S.E. and a sixth-place result in $400 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo. The CMSOP runs through August 31, concluding with the $800 T.O.R.S.E. Championship on August 30.
