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52 Return for Day 2 of 2026 San Diego Poker Classic Main Event
A new champion will be crowned as the 2026 San Diego Poker Classic $600 Main Event embarks on Day 2 at Jamul Casino Resort. Four starting flights hosted a total of 434 entries, creating a prize pool of $225,680. The remaining players will be chasing a first-place prize of $45,311. The stage is now set as 52 hopefuls will make their return to decide who will be the next SDPC champion.
2026 SDPC Main Event Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $45,311 | 11-12 | $3,622 |
| 2 | $30,207 | 13-14 | $2,931 |
| 3 | $22,257 | 15-16 | $2,402 |
| 4 | $16,584 | 17-20 | $1,993 |
| 5 | $12,499 | 21-24 | $1,674 |
| 6 | $9,529 | 25-32 | $1,425 |
| 7 | $7,350 | 33-40 | $1,229 |
| 8 | $5,737 | 41-48 | $1,073 |
| 9-10 | $4,531 | 49-52 | $950 |
Ediberto Pilotin (741,000) will enter Day 2 as the overall chip leader after putting together a strong run on Day 1c. Pablo Costorda (699,000) and Kenneth Hirose (647,000) will come in with the second and third largest stacks to work with.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ediberto Pilotin | Mexico | 741,000 | 93 |
| 2 | Pablo Costorda | United States | 699,000 | 87 |
| 3 | Kenneth Hirose | United States | 647,000 | 81 |
| 4 | Scott Aulds | United States | 592,000 | 74 |
| 5 | Kevin Petties | United States | 539,000 | 67 |
| 6 | Desmond Teal | United States | 520,000 | 65 |
| 7 | Dennis Morgan | United States | 519,000 | 65 |
| 8 | Kyler Somers | United States | 500,000 | 63 |
| 9 | Aviram Parsha | Israel | 475,000 | 59 |
| 10 | Michael Starek | United States | 448,000 | 56 |
Pilotin has had a pair of first-place finishes at Jamul Casino Resort at RunGood events, but he has yet to earn the honor of a top finish at the San Diego Classic as he is still in search of his first SDPC trophy. Pilotin boasts over $280,000 in live career earnings, according to his The Hendon Mob page, as he will aim to add a significant chunk to that total. Pilotin started as a cash game player, but has since evolved and expanded his game into the tournament arena. Originally from Mexico, Pilotin now resides in San Diego and runs a clothing business with his wife. Time will tell if Pilotin can add another feather to his cap with a strong run on Day 2.
Hirose has plenty of main event experience at Jamul Casino Resort. Hirose outlasted 407 entries to conquer the RGPS Main Event in Feb. of 2025 for $42,875. He has yet to taste SDPC glory, however, but perhaps after taking down a main event before at this venue, he can do it again. Hirose has nearly $250,000 in live career earnings according to The Hendon Mob, and will have an opportunity to add another milestone to his career with a win here on Sunday.
Scott Aulds (592,000) is no stranger to winning at Jamul Casino Resort. He has piled up five RunGood rings and four SDPC trophies at this venue as he looks to add a fifth SDPC title to his resume. Aulds’ last title at this casino came when he took first place in the 2026 Jamul Poker Open in the $200 Closer event. He can make it two titles in the span of about three months should he get the job done here at the SDPC Main Event.
Michael Starek (448,000) has had plenty of success in his live tournament career, but he has yet to taste victory at the San Diego Poker Classic. Starek comes into Day 2 with over $330,000 in career earnings as per his The Hendon Mob profile, but a win at the SDPC Main Event would represent the biggest single-event score of his career.
Kyler Somers (500,000) is known more for his appearances as a cash game player on Jamul Poker Live, but after bagging with a hefty amount of chips after Day 1a, he has positioned himself to put himself on the map in the tournament sphere with a top finish in the 2026 SDPC Main Event.
Mahmood Mahdavi was the only player to bag twice for Day 2. Mahdavi will forfeit his lowest stack and enter Day 2 with his larger stack of 296,000. Mahdavi has gotten close to an SDPC title when he finished second in the 2024 SDPC $300 Six Max event, but he has yet to add the SDPC trophy to his cabinet.
Day 2 is scheduled for a 12 p.m. restart. Blind levels are set for 40-minute levels 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.
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Stay tuned here at PokerNews for continued coverage of the SDPC Main Event at Jamul Casino Resort.