Joshua Butler turned his competitive spirit into almost $50,000 after winning the event
Joshua Butler is no stranger to competition, but his biggest win to date didn’t come from a fishing tournament. The Alabama native, best known as a professional bass fisherman, claimed the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Grand Prix Tunica Main Event at Horseshoe Tunica this week. In only his third live poker tournament, Butler walked away with $49,282 and the signature RGPS ring after defeating Hamid Izadi in heads-up play.
The $600 buy-in event drew a strong turnout, with 627 entries swelling the prize pool to $326,040, well above the $200,000 guarantee. Of those, 76 players returned for the second and final day along the Mississippi River. Butler, who started the day as one of many chasing the title, steadily worked his way through the field before outlasting the competition in a grueling 14-hour session.
After his win, Butler reflected on the stamina and mindset needed to succeed, comparing poker to his experience as a fisherman. “Just keeping a level head, you’re never out of it,” he explained. “In fishing, you’re one bite away from turning the whole day around. In poker, it’s the same—you’re one big hand away from changing everything.”
Butler credited his ability to stay calm under pressure as a key factor in navigating the swings of tournament play. That composure carried him through to the final table, where his wife and friends cheered him on late into the night.
For Butler, the victory was especially meaningful given his limited time on the felt. “This is only my third live tournament ever to play,” he said. “To have my wife here and to share this moment—it’s something we’ll never forget.”
With nearly $50,000 in winnings, Butler hinted that more poker tournaments could be in his future. “We might go on the road and try a couple more events and see where it leads,” he added, signaling that his competitive spirit may soon carry him beyond the lakes and into poker rooms across the country.
