We've reached the final table with a rowdy roster and some wildly different chip stacks. A stack as large as the 1.7 million in front of John Avelino, fresh off a second place finish just two days ago, is rare at our events. And Carolyn Patterson's 31,000 might be the smallest stack that has ever squeaked on to the final table at a CSOP event.
Payouts
1st - $2,500
2nd - $1,500
3rd - $1,000
4th - CSOP Celebrity Cash Game Seat + $1,000 Wakebusters Gift Certificate
5th - Las Vegas ATV Tour For Two + $1,000 Wakebusters Gift Certificate
6th - 10th - $300 CSOP Seat
Final Table Competitors
Seat 1: Donny Ruiz (242k)
Donny Ruiz works in gaming at The Venetian and hates interviews.
Seat 2: John Avelino (1,700,000)
John Avelino, hailing from Las Vegas, NV, has been playing poker for 27 years. He was introduced to No Limit Texas Holdem by a friend named Ace when he was 15 years old, shortly after the Moneymaker Boom. Avelino's poker journey began with casual $5 buy-in games, but over time, he immersed himself in the game, mastering strategy and participating in low-stakes cash games.
Avelino's most significant achievement came at the CSOP 97, where he won $2,050, marking his best result in a live tournament. Outside of tournaments, Avelino works in a poker room and is known for his fondness for 7 Card Stud and gambling.
Seat 3: Carolyn Patterson (31k)
Carolyn Patterson, originally from Seattle and now residing in Las Vegas, has been playing poker for ten years. Her introduction to the game came through a personal connection, as she met someone who played poker. Her most notable poker moment was eliminating her husband, tow-time bracelet winner Tyler Patterson, from a tournament. Outside of poker, Carolyn works in the tech industry, describing her occupation as "computer stuff." She is also known by the nickname "Dumb Ram's Wife" and loves the CSOP.
Seat 4: Travis Cochran (210k)
Travis Cochran, originally from Henderson, Nevada, has been playing poker for 20 years. He began his poker journey in home games, where he earned the nickname "El Tiburon" during high school for his winning streaks against friends and their families. His most notable poker achievement to date is finishing 26th in the 2021 Millionaire Maker, earning him $28,000. Outside of poker, Travis works as an AI Engineer.
Seat 5: Brian Kip (504k)
Brian Kip hails from Las Vegas and has been playing poker for 23 years, primarily in home and live games. His poker journey includes hitting a bad beat jackpot at Santa Fe Station and multiple cashes at the World Series of Poker. Although he once played poker full time, Brian transitioned to focus on his career as a marketing expert, founding his own marketing agency, SKC Group, in 2014. He has been one of the most valuable additions to the CSOP, and currently serves as the organizations vice president.
Seat 6: Marsela Lee (610k)
Marsela "Sela" Lee hails from Chicago, Illinois, and has been playing poker for just one week. She was introduced to the game by her father. This tournament marks her first foray into competitive play, a nice results for her first time out! Outside of poker, Marsela works as a representative for Progressive Insurance and is a dedicated mother of five.
Seat 7: Ivan Perez (935k)
Ivan Perez, known in the poker community as "PokermanPerez," hails from Los Angeles and has been playing poker for 23 years. He was inspired to start playing during the 2003 Main Event, famously known as the Moneymaker Boom. His most significant poker achievement to date is a cash prize of over $13,000.
Outside of poker, Ivan is the Vice President of Sales for Logistify (LGFY). Earlier this evening he achieved a personal highlight by eliminating Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi and claiming his bounty.
Seat 8: Ryan Riess (530k)
Ryan Riess, known in the poker world as "Riess the Beast," hails from Michigan and has been playing poker professionally for 14 years. He first got into the game by participating in home games with friends during high school.
Riess's most significant achievement came in 2013 when he won the World Series of Poker Main Event. Outside of poker, he is proud to be a "girl dad."
Seat 9: Martin Lowrey (480k)
Martin Lowrey is a detective with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department and uses his detective skills to crush poker tournaments.
Seat 10: Connor Richards (610k)
Connor Richards, originally from Utah and now residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been playing poker since 2019. He was introduced to poker by his father at a casino in northern Nevada, which sparked an enduring interest in the game. Known by the nickname "Panama Jack" due to his signature Panama Jack rash guard, Connor is a familiar face at WSOP Paradise.
In 2025, Connor achieved his biggest result by finishing 7th in the WSOP Employee Event, earning $8,300. Outside of playing, he works as an editor for PokerNews and hosts a podcast titled "Life Outside Poker."
