Scott Olds won the San Diego Poker Classic 2026, coming back from a 5:1 deficit

Scott Olds became the champion of the San Diego Poker Classic 2026 Main Event at Jamul Casino Resort, overcoming a major chip deficit and winning $45,311.

In 2026, at the San Diego Poker Classic (SDPC) series held at Jamul Casino Resort , the Main Event with a $600 buy-in came to a close. The tournament attracted 434 entries, and the prize pool reached an impressive $225,680. The winner was local favorite Scott Aulds , who, three years after finishing runner-up in this very event, finally claimed the long-awaited title and the top prize of $45,311. This marks Aulds’ fifth SDPC tournament victory, but his first in the Main Event of the series. The Road to Victory: Scott Aulds’ Comeback and Revenge Scott Aulds is well known among San Diego poker fans: he now has 12 titles won at Jamul Casino Resort. However, the SDPC Main Event had long remained an elusive goal for him. Three years ago, Aulds fell just short, finishing in second place. In 2026, he returned to the familiar venue determined to finish what he started. In his post-victory interview, Aulds noted that this title was especially meaningful: “Three years ago, I finished second in this tournament, before I had achieved any major success, and since then this win kept slipping away from me.” According to him, this unfinished business kept pushing him to try again and fueled his motivation. Final Table Action: Dramatic Battle and Comeback The tournament’s second day began with 52 players, but eliminations came quickly, and by the first break only 22 remained. Among them was Day 2 chip leader Pablo Costorda , who, however, was eliminated in 15th place after losing a hand to Robert Fortuno . The final table was set six hours after the start of Day 2. While eliminations had been rapid up to that point, the pace slowed considerably at the final table. Robert Fortuno started the final table with the biggest stack, but quickly lost his advantage and finished in ninth place. He was followed out by Wesley McGraw , who took eighth place. Then came a two-hour stretch without any eliminations, which was finally broken by Kenneth Hirose , who finished seventh. Desmond Teal scored back-to-back knockouts, sending Cary Williams and Michael Starek to the rail, reducing the field to four. At this point, Ediberto Pilotin seized the initiative, eliminating Kyler Somers and then Desmond Teal himself. This set up the heads-up match: Scott Aulds versus Ediberto Pilotin . Heads-Up: Down 1 to 5 and a Winning Surge At the start of the duel for the title, Scott Aulds had nearly five times fewer chips than Ediberto Pilotin . However, in one of the first hands, Aulds doubled up and, as he said, that’s when he felt he could turn things around: “I realized everything was under control. The main thing is to stay calm, stick to your strategy, get the most out of strong hands, and minimize losses with weak ones.” Soon after, Aulds won a big pot and took the chip lead, building a three-to-one advantage. But the match wasn’t over quickly: Pilotin managed to even things up and nearly caught up in chips. At that moment, Aulds said, breathing exercises and focus helped him avoid getting nervous and losing concentration. In the end, Aulds regained the initiative, gradually taking chips from his opponent. Although Pilotin doubled up twice while short-stacked, Aulds didn’t give him a chance for a comeback and sealed the victory by making a flush with an ace-high. Thus, Aulds became the SDPC Main Event champion for the first time in his career. San Diego Poker Classic 2026 Final Table Payouts 1st place: Scott Aulds — $45,311 2nd place: Ediberto Pilotin — $30,260 3rd place: Desmond Teal — $21,710 4th place: Kyler Somers — $15,820 5th place: Michael Starek — $11,707 6th place: Cary Williams — $8,803 7th place: Kenneth Hirose — $6,741 8th place: Wesley McGraw — $5,234 9th place: Robert Fortuno — $4,084 Quick Facts About the Tournament and Participants San Diego Poker Classic is an annual poker series held at Jamul Casino Resort, attracting both local and visiting players. The Main Event with a $600 buy-in traditionally draws hundreds of participants and builds a solid prize pool. In 2026, the tournament had 434 players, and the top nine finalists received payouts. Scott Aulds is one of the most successful players in this series, with 12 titles at Jamul Casino Resort and now a five-time SDPC champion. Ediberto Pilotin proved to be a dangerous opponent, making it to heads-up and giving the future champion a tough challenge. Other finalists included Desmond Teal , Kyler Somers , Michael Starek , Cary Williams , Kenneth Hirose , Wesley McGraw , and Robert Fortuno . It’s also worth noting that Pablo Costorda participated in the tournament, leading after Day 2 but finishing in 15th place. The final table also featured experienced regional series regulars, many of whom frequently play in RunGood.com Poker Series events. Key Moments and Tournament Stats Total entries: 434 Prize pool: $225,680 Buy-in: $600 The tournament was held at Jamul Casino Resort Day 2 started with 52 players The final table lasted over six hours Scott Aulds came back from nearly a 5-to-1 chip deficit in heads-up Winning hand: ace-high flush for Aulds What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Scott Aulds’ victory at SDPC 2026 is a great example of how persistence, mental resilience, and smart stack management can lead to success even in the toughest situations. For PPPoker club members, this is a reminder: don’t give up, even if you’re a big underdog in the late stages of a tournament. The ability to stay calm and focused, as well as using breathing techniques to control your emotions, can be a real edge. Additionally, the tournament structure—with fast eliminations early and a drawn-out final table—highlights the importance of adapting to changing game pace. Similar situations often occur in PPPoker online clubs, and live tournament experience can be effectively applied to digital battles: choose the right strategy depending on the tournament stage and your opponents. Finally, the SDPC prize pool and payout structure show that even tournaments with a relatively small buy-in can deliver significant winnings. Taking part in PPPoker club events is not only a way to hone your skills and emotions, but also a real chance at big prizes if you’re ready to learn from the best and keep improving your game.