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$600 SDPC Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2026 San Diego Poker Classic
$600 SDPC Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
2026 San Diego Poker Classic
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$225,680
Total Entries
434
Level
30
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
52
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 434
Filter
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Three years after finishing runner-up in the San Diego Poker Classic Main Event, Scott Aulds finally got his hands on the title. Returning to Jamul Casino Resort, a venue where he has already won 12 titles, Aulds had some unfinished business to take care of.
The local favorite outlasted a field of 434 entries to win the 2026 San Diego Poker Classic $600 Main Event and claim his fifth SDPC title, along with the $45,311 top prize from the $225,680 prize pool.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott Aulds | United States | $45,311 |
| 2 | Ediberto Pilotin | Mexico | $30,207 |
| 3 | Desmond Teal | United States | $22,257 |
| 4 | Kyler Somers | United States | $16,584 |
| 5 | Michael Starek | United States | $12,499 |
| 6 | Cary Williams | United States | $9,529 |
| 7 | Kenneth Hirose | United States | $7,350 |
| 8 | Wesley McGraw | United States | $5,737 |
| 9 | Robert Fortuno | United States | $4,531 |
“This one is really special because I got second in this event three years ago before I really won anything, and it’s just been eluding me ever since,” Aulds shared with PokerNews in the wake of his victory.
It was no easy path for Aulds to finally expel the ghost of his second-place finish. The final table lasted over six hours, and Aulds entered the heads-up match against Ediberto Pilotin down nearly five-to-one in the chip counts, but an early double-up got Aulds off the canvas. It was this moment that Aulds stated he felt that he had a shot at not repeating as runner-up in this event and could bring home the title.
“I knew I was good to go after that,” said Aulds. “I’m just slow and steady. I’ve got a good routine, and I know how to make it last. I know how to maximize my good hands, and how to minimize my bad hands.”
Aulds went on to win a sizeable pot against Pilotin and took an over three-to-one chip lead. But the match was far from over, as the marathon final table continued as Pilotin climbed back into the match and pulled nearly even. Aulds shared his thought process on how to handle the long grind of a final table of this nature.
“Whenever I start getting anxious or bored, I just start doing breathing exercises and just bring my heart rate down and stay focused,” said Aulds.
His poise worked as Aulds managed to regain control of the match as he chipped away at Pilotin pot after pot until he had Pilotin on a low stack. Pilotin managed to double twice late in the match to stay alive, but Aulds clamped down on his opponent and finished off the championship run with an ace-high flush to win his first-ever SDPC Main Event title.
Aulds shared that he plans to stay active in the poker tournament arena and will travel to continue his pursuit of poker scores and titles.
Day 2 Action
A total of 52 players returned for Day 2, but that number didn’t last long as the eliminations began to pile up quickly, with the field trimmed down to 22 players by the first break. The fast pace kept up as players kept falling by the wayside, including Day 1b chip leader Pablo Costorda in 15th place when he was eliminated by Robert Fortuno.
Day 2 reached the final table after six hours of play, but it was at this point that the quick pace turned into a slog.
Fortuno entered the table as the chip leader, but his fortune turned around in a hurry when he took several hits early on that led to his demise in ninth place.
Wesley McGraw was the next to go in eighth place, but the final table would not see another elimination for roughly two hours until Kenneth Hirose was the next player to exit the final table in seventh.
Desmond Teal scored a pair of knockouts of Cary Williams and Michael Starek to cut the field down to four players.
It was Pilotin who then played the role of knockout artist as he dispatched of Kyler Somers and eliminated Desmond Teal to get to the heads-up match against Aulds where he fall just short in second place.
This concludes the PokerNews coverage of the San Diego Poker Classic at Jamul Casino Resort. Check back for continued coverage of poker tournaments around the world.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Scott Aulds scored the first-place prize of $45,311 for his finish. Stay tuned for a reaction from the winner.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Ediberto Pilotin opened to 875,000 before Scott Aulds made the call from the big blind.
The K♦5♣10♣ flop led Aulds to go all-in. Pilotin called to put himself at risk as they went to a showdown for the title.
Ediberto Pilotin: Q♣J♦
Scott Aulds: A♣4♣
They were both drawing as Pilotin had an open-ended straight draw, but Aulds had the ace-high flush draw and the best hand with two cards to go.
The Q♣ was the knockout blow as Aulds improved to a flush and Pilotin was left with no recourse.
The 4♥ completed the board as Pilotin was eliminated in second place.
Pilotin earned $30,207 for his finish.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Ediberto Pilotin fell back down the chip counts, but he got a boost on this hand.
Ediberto Pilotin opened to 600,000 on the button, and Scott Aulds defended his big blind to take them to a flop.
Aulds shoved on the 4♣Q♠5♣ flop. Pilotin snap-called to go to a showdown to be at risk for 1,200,000.
Ediberto Pilotin: Q♣6♥
Scott Aulds: K♦5♦
Pilotin was in control with two cards to go. He needed to fade the five or king to stay alive in the tournament.
The 4♥ was safe, and the J♣ sealed the deal as Pilotin doubled.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Ediberto Pilotin shoved for his final 1,350,000 on the button before Scott Aulds called to put Pilotin at risk for the title.
Ediberto Pilotin: Q♠10♦
Scott Aulds: A♣3♦
Aulds was ahead, but the flop favored Pilotin when it came 6♥7♠10♥ to give Pilotin a pair of tens.
The 7♦ turn was no threat to Pilotin, and the 4♥ river awarded him the double to regain a toehold in the match.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Ediberto Pilotin limped on the button before Scott Aulds made it 1,100,000 from the big blind.
Pilotin called and sent them to a flop of 3♥A♦A♥ before he checked.
Aulds checked back to usher in the J♣ turn before he led for 1,400,000. Pilotin made the call.
The 8♥ river resulted in a bet of 2,000,000 from Aulds. Pilotin called again to go to a showdown.
Aulds showed A♠2♦ for trip aces to take the pot as Pilotin mucked his hand in response.
Level: 30
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Scott Aulds made it 600,000 on the button before Ediberto Pilotin defended his big blind.
The 5♦3♠J♣ flop led to a pair of checks to bring the 4♦ turn.
Both players checked the turn before Pilotin bet 475,000 on the 3♣ river. Aulds called to go to a showdown.
Pilotin showed K♦J♥ for jacks up. Aulds showed A♥K♣ for ace high to yield the pot to Pilotin.
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
