2026 San Diego Poker Classic
Level: 22
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 40,000
Players are on a 15-minute break. Action will resume at the 20,000/40,000 level.
Kevin Petties opened to 70,000 from the cutoff. Robert Fortuno called on the button, and Wesley McGraw joined from the big blind to create a three-handed pot.
The 7♣5♣6♠ flop led to a continuation bet of 75,000 from Petties. Fortuno and McGraw both called.
Petties shoved for his final 215,000 on the 6♥ turn before Fortuno made the call. McGraw folded as Petties and Fortuno went to a showdown with Petties at risk.
Kevin Petties: A♣2♥
Robert Fortuno: A♠9♣
Petties was behind, but could chop if the board paired.
The river was bad news for Petties as it came the 8♦ to give Fortuno a straight and eliminate Petties in 11th place.
Petties earned $3,622 for his finish.
Ediberto Pilotin opened on the button before Benjamin Stauch three-bet to 380,000, leaving only 20,000 behind. Pilotin four-bet shoved in response, and Stauch called to put himself at risk for 400,000 total.
Benjamin Stauch: A♠J♠
Ediberto Pilotin: Q♠Q♦
Stauch was hunting for an ace as Pilotin had a big hand with pocket queens.
The 7♣9♦8♥ flop gave Stauch a little bit more to work with as he gained a gutshot straight draw.
Pilotin stayed in front on the 6♣ turn, and the 3♣ river was the final card Stauch would see on Day 2 as he was eliminated from contention.
Stauch earned $3,622 for his 12th-place finish.
Six players took the flop of 2♥Q♠8♣ before Anthony Bland shoved for his final 150,000 from the big blind. Michael Starek threw out one chip for a call, and Wesley McGraw followed with a call to put Bland at risk.
The J♣ turn and the 4♦ river were checked to go to a showdown.
Bland showed A♠8♠ for a pair of eights. Starek had one better with 9♦9♠, but it was McGraw with the winner; he tabled Q♦10♠ for a pair of queens to claim the pot and eliminate Bland in 13th place.
Bland earned $2,931 for his finish.
Level: 21
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 30,000
Mahmood Mahdavi went all-in for his final 325,000 from the cutoff and was called by Kyler Somers out of the small blind as they went to a showdown with Mahdavi at risk.
Mahmood Mahdavi: A♦K♥
Kyler Somers: 9♥9♠
Mahdavi had the best drawing hand in the game, but Somers was slightly ahead with his pair as they went to a runout.
The flop favored Somers as it came 5♣10♣2♥ to keep Somers ahead.
Mahdavi received little help on the 10♦ turn, and the 8♦ river sealed it in favor of Somers.
Mahdavi earned $2,931 for his 14th-place finish.
Robert Fortuno opened to 55,000 from the cutoff before Pablo Costorda defended his big blind.
The J♦K♦A♥ flop would create fireworks as Costorda checked before Fortuno continued for 60,000. Costorda check-raised all-in for 405,000 in response. Fortuno asked for a count and gave it some thought before he put in the call to put Costorda at risk.
Pablo Costorda: A♦7♦
Robert Fortuno: K♠J♣
Costorda held top pair and a flush draw, but Fortuno had the best made hand with his kings and jacks.
The turn was a red card, but the wrong suit when it came the 4♥ to keep Fortuno ahead.
Costorda would see the final card of his tournament when the 6♣ hit the river as he was eliminated in 15th place.
Costorda earned $2,402 for his finish.
Benjamin Stauch put out 210,000 from early position, leaving only 5,000 behind. Mahmood Mahdavi made the call from the next seat over before the rest of the table folded.
The flop came 3♣9♥Q♦ before Stauch flicked in his final 5,000. Mahdvai called to put Stauch at risk.
Benjamin Stauch: 10♠10♥
Mahmood Mahdavi: A♠K♣
Stauch was ahead with two cards to go. The 10♣ turn shut down a lot of Mahdavi's outs, but he was not dead, as he could still spike a jack for a straight.
The 5♦ river was safe for Stauch to the secure the double-up.