Santo Biddix Wins the Big 50’s at Daytona Beach Poker

The Big 50’s came to a close at Daytona Beach Poker with Santo Biddix topping a 265-entry field to claim the title and $20,119 first-place prize. Biddix’s victory was the result of steady play and timely aggression throughout the late stages of the tournament, allowing him to navigate a tough final table and convert key opportunities into chips.

After starting the final table among the shorter stacks, Biddix doubled early through Thomas Gray, setting the stage for a climb up the leaderboard. He later eliminated Roy Lee in third place when his queen-deuce held against Lee’s pocket fives, narrowing the field to two. The ensuing heads-up match with Steven Blay lasted more than an hour and featured multiple lead changes, including a pivotal preflop all-in where Biddix’s ten-three held against Blay’s pocket fours to swing momentum back in his favor.

The tournament-ending hand occurred late in Level 28. Biddix raised the button to 850,000 and Blay called. The flop came Q♦-10♥-5♣. After Blay checked, Biddix moved all-in and Blay called, holding K♥-10♣ for middle pair. Biddix tabled J♣-9♥. The 4♣ on the turn changed nothing, and the J♦ on the river paired Biddix, giving him a higher pair and securing the Big 50’s victory.

For Santo Biddix, the Big 50’s victory represents one of the most significant wins of his career and his largest tournament score at Daytona Beach Poker. A highly experienced tournament regular, Biddix has amassed a long list of live cashes across Florida, including multiple final tables and victories at Seminole Hard Rock properties and Dania Casino. His résumé includes marquee wins such as a $32,000 first-place finish at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Deepstacks Challenge and a $25,315 victory in the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Deepstacks, along with numerous other four- and five-figure results. While Biddix has recorded prior cashes at Daytona Beach Poker, this Big 50’s title stands as his most notable local result, capping a disciplined and well-earned run through a deep field and a demanding final table.