Join PokerNews in California for the 2026 San Diego Poker Classic

The Jamul Casino in Jamul, California, is gearing up to host the 2026 edition of the San Diego Poker Classic (SDPC). Running from July 30 and wrapping up on August 9, the SDPC boasts a bustling low-stakes schedule that is sure to attract hundreds of poker players in the Golden State.

A $200 buy-in, $10,000 guaranteed First Wave No-Limit Hold’em and the $300 buy-in, $50,000 guaranteed SDPC Weekend Opener are the two events that kick the festival off in style. Last year’s Weekend Opener attracted 412 entrants, who created a guarantee-busting $98,880 prize pool. Robert Fortuno came out on top in that event and padded his bankroll with $20,313.

$100,000 Guaranteed SDPC Main Event

Of course, the highlight of the 2026 SDPC is the $600 buy-in Main Event, which comes with a $100,000 guarantee on its prize pool. However, a much larger pot is expected to be up for grabs, with the 2025 SDPC paying out $195,000 after 375 players bought in.

There are four flights for the $100,000 guaranteed SDPC Main Event, taking place on August 7-8. They shuffle up and deal at 11:00 a.m. local time for Flight A and C, and at 6:00 p.m. local time on Flights B and D.

All players start their quest for 2026 SDPC Main Event glory with a 30,000 starting stack. Levels on each of the four flights span 30 minutes, extending to 40 minutes on Day 2.

Blinds start at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante. Late registration is open until the start of Level 9, with unlimited re-entries permitted before the registration desk slams shut. Once Level 8 concludes, players can forfeit their stack and re-enter for $600, giving them a fresh 30,000 stack. Anyone doing this will head into Level 9 with 20 big blinds.

Each flight continues until only 12.5% (rounded down) remains, with surviving players heading into Day 2 having locked in a min-cash. Blinds on Day 2 are rolled back to the lowest level of play during the Day 1 flights.

It is possible to reach Day 2 more than once because players are permitted to enter as many of the four flights as they wish. However, if they advance to Day 2 more than once, only their largest stack is in play; any others are forfeited.

PokerNews‘ live reporting team will be on the tournament floor throughout the Main Event, bringing you all of the action, as it happens, from this exciting No-Limit Hold’em event.

San Diego Poker Classic 2025 Main Event Final Table Results

A field of 375 entrants created a $195,000 prize pool in the 2025 SDPC Main Event last August. Those who cashed won at least $995, with a final table appearance boosting that sum to $4,115.

The tournament ended in a three-handed deal, where David Fernandez Sanchez busted in third for $26,431, and James Kozono fell at the final hurdle, a result worth $28,865. Gregorio Sebastian Gonzalez is the reigning champion. The Jamul Casino regular collected a career-best $33,216 for his victory.

San Diego Poker Classic Full Schedule

Expand the table below to see the full schedule for the 2026 SDPC. Bookmark this page and use it to plan your path to SDPC glory.

San Diego Poker Classic 2025 Results

One player who is all but guaranteed to turn up for the 2026 SDPC is Scott Aulds. The San Diego native thrived during the 2025 SDPC, helping himself to not one, not two, but three trophies!

Aulds won the $300 PLO, the $300 Black Chip Bounty, and was part of the winning duo in the $300 Tag Team event!

Ediberto Pilotin also captured a pair of trophies, winning the $200 NLHE First Wave and the $200 Green Chip Bounty, while the aforementioned Gregorio Sebastian Gonzalez triumphed in another $300 Black Chip Bounty before taking down the $600 Main Event.

Although he didn’t win any events last year, keep an eye out for Travis Margers in PokerNews‘ live updates, or maybe add him to your MyPlayers feed. According to The Hendon Mob Database, Margers’ $98,753 winnings and 59 top 10 finishes are the most of anyone at the Jamul Casino.

Matthew Pitt hails from Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom, and has worked in the poker industry since 2008, and worked for PokerNews since 2010. In September 2010, he became the editor of PokerNews. Matthew stepped away from live reporting duties in 2015, and now concentrates on his role of Senior Editor for the PokerNews.