$600 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tunica
$600 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tunica
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$600
Prize Pool
$326,040
Entries
627
Level
30
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
76
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 627
Filter
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Joshua Butler is quite familiar with collecting prize money and participating in winner’s interviews - but not when it comes to poker. The Alabama native is an accomplished professional bass fisherman who, until today, had only competed in two other live tournaments in his life. He got his first taste of glory on the felt by defeating Hamid Izadi heads-up to take down the RunGood Poker Series Grand Prix Tunica Main Event, earning $49,282 and the coveted RGPS ring.
The two-day event featured a $600 buy-in and attracted 627 entries, with only 76 players returning to Horseshoe Tunica here along the banks of the Mississippi River for the final day of action. Butler captured the lion’s share of the $326,040 prize pool, which crushed the $200,000 guarantee that was advertised.
When asked how he was feeling following his biggest poker score, Butler mentioned, "Ecstatic, very tired. It went 14 hours or so today, however long it was. It was a grind - I just tried to put myself in the best spot I could and, you know, hopefully run good."
2025 RGPS Grand Prix Tunica Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Butler | United States | $49,282* |
| 2 | Hamid Izadi | United States | $40,000* |
| 3 | Chris Kennedy | United States | $40,000* |
| 4 | Jamie Kizer | United States | $21,897 |
| 5 | Nathan Morton | United States | $16,497 |
| 6 | Cody Stanford | United States | $12,577 |
| 7 | Brian Durr | United States | $9,704 |
| 8 | Dylan Crawford | United States | $7,579 |
| 9 | Teresa Lammie | United States | $5,992 |
*Denotes a three-way deal
Similarities Between Poker and Bass Fishing
Butler mentioned after his win that he was comfortable competing when the stakes were high, indicating that he has been a professional bass fisherman for a number of years. He was asked about the parallels between fishing and poker and whether or not his background in the water may have helped him on the felt.
"I mean, for sure. I mean just keeping a level head, you're never out of it. Same way with fishing, you're one bite away from having your whole day swing the right way. Same way in poker, you're one big hand away from no telling what happens. So, there's a lot of parallels to it. You just got to keep the level head and keep grinding."
Celebrating Victory with Wife By His Side
As the tournament wound down, Butler was cheered on for several hours at the final table by his wife and friends, who supported him from the rail en route to victory. He was asked what it meant to have his spouse present to share such a special moment.
"It means everything. I mean, actually I'm really new at this. This is only my third live tournament ever to play, so to have her here, I mean, it's incredible. We get to share it together and it's something we'll definitely never forget."
When asked about his upcoming plans with the money, Butler replied "I don't know, we might go on the road and try a couple more events and see where it leads."
That wraps up coverage of the $600 Main Event here at the RGPS Grand Prix Tunica. Be sure to follow PokerNews for future events all around the globe.
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Hamid Izadi open-shoved on the button for 8,500,000 and Joshua Butler quickly called in the big blind looking to end the tournament.
Hamid Izadi: A♠8♣ 
Joshua Butler: A♥J♥
Butler pulled ahead further on the 5♣J♠3♥ flop, pairing his jack. The 9♠ turn and 4♥ river offered no help to Izadi and his impressive tournament run came to an end.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
18,800,000
8,000,000
|
8,000,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
After winning a few small pots, Joshua Butler had taken the lead over Hamid Izadi.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,800,000
3,200,000
|
3,200,000 |
|
|
8,000,000
3,200,000
|
3,200,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Hamid Izadi raised to 650,000 on the button and Joshua Butler three-bet to 1,600,000 in the big blind. Izadi called.
The flop came 7♦6♣3♦ and Butler continued with a bet of 1,100,000. Izadi then moved all in for 6,600,000 to put himself at risk, resulting in a quick fold from Butler.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,200,000
4,700,000
|
4,700,000 |
|
|
7,600,000
4,700,000
|
4,700,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Joshua Butler raised to 750,000 on the button and Hamid Izadi three-bet to 2,000,000 in the big blind. Butler made the call.
The flop came K♣5♠10♥ and Izadi moved all in to put Butler at risk who had just under 4,000,000 behind. Butler quickly called.
Joshua Butler: K♥J♠
Hamid Izadi: K♠9♦
The board ran out 6♣, 7♣ and Butler doubled up to take the lead in the heads-up match.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,300,000
4,500,000
|
4,500,000 |
|
|
6,500,000
4,500,000
|
4,500,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Joshua Butler raised to 750,000 on the button and Hamid Izadi defended in the big blind.
The flop came 4♦A♣8♥ and Izadi check-called a bet of 500,000 from Butler.
The A♥ turn went check-check and the river landed the 3♥. Izadi led out for 1,000,000 and Butler thought for a brief moment before making the call.
Izadi tabled 9♠8♣ for two pair, aces and eights, and Butler mucked his cards.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,000,000
1,250,000
|
1,250,000 |
|
|
7,800,000
1,250,000
|
1,250,000 |
Level: 30
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Chris Kennedy moved all in on the button for 375,000 and was called by Joshua Butler in the small blind and Hamid Izadi in the big blind.
The flop of 10♥7♦4♦ went check-check, as did the 6♦ turn. The 2♦ river brought the fourth diamond on the board and Butler checked again. Izadi bet 200,000 and Butler gave up his hand.
Izadi tabled 9♦4♣ for a flush, besting the 5♦2♥ of Kennedy who had a lower flush.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,750,000
750,000
|
750,000 |
|
|
9,050,000
375,000
|
375,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 29
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Hamid Izadi raised to 400,000 on the button, Chris Kennedy flatted in the small blind, and Joshua Butler three-bet jammed in the big blind for 4,350,000 to put himself at risk. Izadi got out of the way and Kennedy thought for a moment before making the call.
Joshua Butler: A♣10♣
Chris Kennedy: Q♣J♥
Butler pulled ahead further on the 2♦6♠A♠ flop, pairing his ace. The 5♦ turn and 9♦ river offered no help to Kennedy who was left on fumes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,425,000
4,525,000
|
4,525,000 |
|
|
9,000,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
375,000
4,225,000
|
4,225,000 |
