button in SafariPilotin Reigns at the Top of Day 1c
The third flight of the San Diego Poker Classic $600 Main Event is in the books as a total of 141 entries took their shot on Saturday to qualify for Day 2. Day 1c permitted 17 players to advance to the final day of play. The stage is nearly set for the final day of the $100,000 guarantee in the main event as Day 1d is currently underway at Jamul Casino Resort.
Ediberto Pilotin (741,000) was at the top of the chip standings on Day 1c. was trailed by Kevin Petties (539,000) and Dennis Morgan (519,000) to round out the top three finishers on the chip leaderboard of the third flight of the main event.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ediberto Pilotin | Mexico | 741,000 | 62 |
| 2 | Kevin Petties | United States | 539,000 | 45 |
| 3 | Dennis Morgan | United States | 519,000 | 43 |
| 4 | Robert Hoag | United States | 348,000 | 29 |
| 5 | Mahmood Mahdavi | United States | 296,000 | 25 |
| 6 | Joshua Cobin | United States | 246,000 | 21 |
| 7 | David Lebner | United States | 237,000 | 20 |
| 8 | Chris Takata | United States | 207,000 | 17 |
| 9 | Daryn Brush | United States | 176,000 | 15 |
| 10 | Vladimir Medvinsky | United States | 166,000 | 14 |
Pilotin originally hails from Mexico but now resides in San Diego and runs a clothing business with his wife. Pilotin started a poker team called “The Crushers” and shared with PokerNews that his criteria for selecting members of the team is not based on cashes and poker clout.
“The team is not based on The Hendon Mob; it’s based on brotherhood, on who I feel is a good fit for the team on and off the table,” said Pilotin.
Pilotin explained that he has been playing poker since the early 2000’s, but that his poker journey was exclusively cash for over a decade until a friend told him he should try tournaments.
Piltoin shared a story about how he attended his first World Series of Poker in 2018 and played in the Millionaire Maker. Pilotin ended up finishing in 448th place, but he shared that the experience playing during this tournament was invaluable and changed his perspective on poker.
“I was just playing to have fun,” said Pilotin. “Playing tournaments sparked a whole new way of understanding the game.”
Pilotin explained that he now approaches the game from a different angle. He shared that he has studied in various coaching academies, but is currently learning in an academy based out of Mexico named La Pecera Academy.
Ultimately, Pilotin intimated that he tries to keep things in perspective beyond poker.
“I live life to the fullest, and I’m thankful for what God gives me,” said Pilotin. “I ‘m thankful for my wife and my kids.”
Second in chips on Day 1c was Petties. Petties does not have an extensive tournament history according to his The Hendon Mob profile, but Petties has two cashes to his name at Jamul Casino Resort, as this could be a launching pad for him with a strong showing on Day 2.
Morgan bagged third in chips and has now cashed in the last three years at events held during the San Diego Poker Classic, according to The Hendon Mob. Morgan’s first cash came during the 2024 SDPC Main Event when he finished in 39th place. Morgan will aim to top that when he returns to play on the final day tomorrow.
Day 2 is scheduled for a 12 p.m. restart. Blind levels will increase to 40 minutes on Day 2, with 15-minute breaks scheduled after every three levels on the final day of play. The tournament will play down until a champion is crowned.
Stay tuned here at PokerNews for continued coverage of the SDPC Main Event here at Jamul Casino Resort.