Up-and-Coming Poker Player Wins Two Titles at RGPS San Diego Poker Classic
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Just a few days ago, Sebastian Acevedo took down the $300 Black Chip Bounty Trophy Event at the San Diego Poker Classic. Today, he followed up that victory with a career-best score of $33,216 in the $600 Main Event after agreeing to a three-way ICM chop with James Kozono and David Fernandez Sanchez.
The two-day event attracted 375 entries, with only 43 players returning to Jamul Resort Casino in sunny Southern California for the final day of action. Acevedo captured the lion’s share of the $195,000 prize pool, along with his second SDPC wave trophy of the series - not bad for someone who just started playing tournaments a little over a year ago.
When asked how he was feeling following his big win, Acevedo mentioned, "Honestly, feel great. I came into the run itself, thinking I was gonna win a trophy, at least one. I felt pretty confident. Never would have expected to not only win one, win two, and especially the main event. Couldn't be happier, honestly."
2025 RGPS San Diego Poker Classic $600 Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastian Acevedo | United States | $33,216* |
| 2 | James Kozono | United States | $28,865* |
| 3 | David Fernandez Sanchez | United States | $26,431* |
| 4 | Patrick Wamsley | United States | $12,071 |
| 5 | Silas Tooley | United States | $9,302 |
| 6 | Tolga Gesli | United States | $7,703 |
| 7 | Romeo Ebidag | United States | $6,455 |
| 8 | Michael Kaplitz | United States | $5,285 |
| 9 | Bradley Miller | United States | $4,115 |
* Denotes three-way deal
Tournament Newcomer on Unbelievable Run
Acevedo continued to explain how grateful he was for such a remarkable string of success here at the San Diego Poker Classic over the past week or so.
"So, the first opening weekend, I took down the Black Chip Bounty. I got first in that, and the next day I got second in the tag team event as well. And now first in the main event, so it's been a surreal run and honestly, I don't know if I can ever replicate it."
"I started tournaments about a year ago."
He went on to talk about how he recently made the switch from cash games to tournaments - a decision that has proven to be quite fruitful.
"Yeah, so I started tournaments about a year ago. Before that, I had played about a year and a half of live cash games relatively consistently. For a tournament, this is my biggest score. It's my first five-figure score, and this is probably my tenth tournament ever."
Leading Life with God First
Acevedo was asked about the rosary beads he was seen holding up in his winner's photos and whether or not they held any special meaning to him.
"Yeah, the utmost meaning. I put this before poker, work, and everything. I'm Catholic and I was born and raised Catholic, and that's been the most important thing in my life. God has always led me the right way and if I try to lead my life with God first, I know that only good things happen."
"If I try to lead my life with God first, I know that only good things happen."
"Religion in my eyes should be a priority for everybody in one aspect or the other - having some kind of respect for where you come from is number one. And so the rosary in particular is important because I'm a big fan of the Virgin Mary - Catholics are in general. And I'm originally from Mexico, so huge Catholic based faith over there. I try to keep it close and that's my number one thing in life - I lead my life with God."
When asked about his winnings and his future poker plans, Acevedo replied "I mean, plans for the money, nothing crazy, obviously just keep it, invest it, you know, savvy financial advice. And then I got a couple of free buy-ins.
There's an MSPT coming up in Sycuan, and I plan on playing that. I don't plan on firing a ton of bullets, but here and there, and that's about it."
