Allen ‘Chainsaw’ Kessler is looking forward to welcoming players to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in April as he hosts the Mixed Series of Poker. It’s great timing for the PokerStake player, as Allen just won his second RunGood Series ring. We caught up with Chainsaw to find out all about his exciting week at the felt and off it.

Running Good

“I was getting my money in great and just being punished.”

This week, Allen Kessler booked his second victory on the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS). Chainsaw locked up victory in the $400 T.O.R.S.E. event after some time without a win. We spoke to Allen to find out what it felt like to return to the winner’s circle on one of his favorite tours.

“I’d been going through a prolonged dry spell in these mixed events,” says Allen. “I was getting my money in great and just being punished.”

All that changed this week, when Allen won his second RGPS ring and celebrated with his friends (above).

“Finally, everything seemed to click,” he says. “I was running well and when I missed and bluffed, my opponents found folds.”

Returning to Caesars Palace

“Caesars is where we introduced T.O.R.S.E. as a tournament event in 2023.”

With his latest win still fresh in his memory, Allen hopes to add several more positive results in the lead-up to WSOP season with the Mixed Series of Poker, which returns to Caesars Palace in April.

“It’s great to be going back to Caesars,” says Allen. “Caesars is where we introduced T.O.R.S.E. as a tournament event in 2023, and that has become one of the most popular mixed formats.”

The location of Caesars Palace has held it in good stead during a period of mild decline in Las Vegas casino footfall, and Allen can’t wait to see players flood to the series.

“It’s right at the center [of the] strip, has a newly remodeled poker room and is easily accessible from valet or self-park,” he tells us. “These events will cover all the standard mixed formats as well as another new popular concept we introduced at our Planet Hollywood series – 5-way Limit Triple Draw Mix, which includes deuce-even, A-5, Badeucey, Badacey and Badugi. We are also trying something new [called] Chainsaw’s 8 Game Mix.”

The Chainsaw Mix includes H.O.R.S.E. and 2-7 Limit Triple Draw, but replaces the two non-mixed games of No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) with PLO8 and Big O.

“Hopefully this will catch on, because it’s a way more desirable format for true mixed players.

Player of the Series and Staking

The Mixed Series of Poker at Caesars Palace, which starts on April 18, is currently listed on PokerStake where you can back either Allen Kessler himself or one of Chainsaw’s good friends, Kathy Chang. Both players have an excellent record in mixed games, and are selling to a number of events, which you can check out here in full.

There is also the not-so-small matter of a $5,000 Player of the Series race, which Allen fully intends to be a frontrunner in. With the extra cash on offer, along with a great schedule of events (below), players can look forward to playing in events from Saturday April 18 right through to the final event, which is scheduled to start a week later on Saturday April 25.

Each event costs $500 to play and starts at 12 noon, with three cash prizes on off in the POTS race, $2,500 to the winner, $1,500 to the runner-up and $1,00 to whoever comes third. Every event sees players start with 40,000 chips and there are 30-minute blind levels throughout.