Joseph Ferguson won the RunGood Poker Series Joplin with pocket sevens

Joseph Ferguson became the champion of the RunGood Poker Series Joplin Main Event, doubling up three times with pocket sevens and winning $48,516.

Joseph Ferguson captured the title in the RunGood Poker Series Golden Expedition Joplin Main Event with a $700 buy-in, displaying remarkable grit and skill at the final table. His pocket sevens turned into a real talisman—he doubled up three times with this hand on his way to the championship and the top prize of $48,516. This marks the biggest win of his poker career and his second major title, following his victory at a WSOP Circuit stop in 2024. Context: RunGood Poker Series and Downstream Casino Resort The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) is a popular live poker tournament series held across the United States. RGPS Main Events traditionally attract hundreds of players thanks to affordable buy-ins, a friendly atmosphere, and a packed schedule. The Golden Expedition Joplin tournament was hosted at Downstream Casino Resort, a venue that regularly brings together the region’s top players. Ferguson is no stranger to this place: a year ago, he finished 10th here, and ten years ago, he made the RGPS final table in Tulsa. Participating in series like this is a great opportunity for amateur players to prove themselves and compete for serious prize money, without the pressure and fierce competition typical of the world’s biggest series like the WSOP or WPT. Ferguson himself notes that it’s the more relaxed atmosphere that allows him to truly enjoy playing RGPS events. Tournament Progress: From Day 1 to the Final Table The RGPS Golden Expedition Joplin Main Event with a $700 buy-in drew 400 entries. Forty-nine players advanced to Day 2, including both well-known pros and ambitious amateurs. Early on Day 2, there were dramatic eliminations of several favorites: Day 1a chip leader Mostafa Ashkarhizani was eliminated after his aces lost to Daniel Lowery’s two pair. RGPS patriarch Papa Karn finished in 32nd place. Defending champion Cody Hughey ended his run in 26th place. Mostafa’s son, Evan Ashkarhizani, finished in 21st place. Heidi Erickson started Day 2 as chip leader but couldn’t hold onto her advantage: she busted in 17th place, losing a set of tens to Jeff Copeland’s set of aces. Daniel Lowery, the record holder for RGPS rings, also missed the final table, losing two all-ins in a row to Frederick Roll and finishing 15th. The final table bubble burst when Robert Little hit a straight on the river to knock out Tim Black. Final Table Starting Stacks Jeff Copeland — 2,300,000 (chip leader) Joseph Ferguson — 1,400,000 Landon Mabe — 1,400,000 Final Table Showdown: Key Hands and Turning Points The final table began with a quick elimination: Josh Hawkins (9th place) lost an all-in to Ferguson: AQ vs QJ . Next, Tricia Wu (8th place) was knocked out by Landon Mabe: her AJ couldn’t hold against AK. Two more quick hands followed: Michael Varnell (7th place) moved all-in for 265,000, called by Mabe and Copeland. On the river, Copeland made a full house and eliminated Varnell. Craig Leopard (6th place) was eliminated by Ferguson: AJ vs AQ. After that, the final five battled for over two hours without an elimination. Each player took turns as chip leader, then found themselves short-stacked, only to bounce back—the action was marked by big swings and plenty of tension. In one key hand, Copeland doubled through Ferguson with a straight on the flop. Little, who at one point was down to less than 1,000,000 chips, managed to take the lead after winning a big pot from Ferguson on the river. After the break, Copeland doubled up again, this time with pocket aces against Ferguson, leaving Ferguson critically short-stacked. That’s when Ferguson’s miraculous run with pocket sevens began: First all-in: 77 vs Little’s AJ. An ace came on the flop, but a seven followed immediately, giving Ferguson a set and a double-up. Second all-in: 77 vs Copeland’s KT. The sevens held, and Ferguson doubled up again. Copeland finished in 5th place when Little hit a set of eights. Soon after, Ferguson and Little played the biggest pot of the final table: on the river, Ferguson bet 500,000, Little raised to 1,000,000, and Ferguson shoved for 3,100,000. Little snap-called with a full house on sixes, but Ferguson had a full house on sevens—this hand was the turning point, giving Ferguson a commanding chip lead. Landon Mabe lost almost his entire stack in a hand where both he and Little made a straight, but Little completed a flush on the river. Little soon finished off Mabe, knocking him out in 4th place. Connor Hayward, who had been chip leader for a long time, dropped to 1,200,000 and lost a flip with KQ against Ferguson’s 99, finishing third. Heads-Up: Ferguson vs Little In heads-up play, Ferguson started with a big chip lead—9,700,000 to Little’s 2,300,000. In one of the first hands, Little was all-in with a flush draw against Ferguson’s pocket nines. The river didn’t bring a flush, but improved Little to a pair of queens, allowing him to double up and take the lead. However, Ferguson quickly regained control, catching a pair of kings on the river and calling Little’s bluff. After that, the opponents played small pots for almost an hour before Little shoved his last 2,000,000 with 65, and Ferguson called with AQ. The board didn’t help Little, and Ferguson sealed the victory. RGPS Golden Expedition Joplin $700 Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Joseph Ferguson $48,516 2 Robert Little $32,139 3 Connor Hayward $23,038 4 Landon Mabe $16,782 5 Jeff Copeland $12,416 6 Craig Leopard $9,322 7 Michael Varnell $7,089 8 Tricia Wu $5,462 9 Josh Hawkins $4,282 Joseph Ferguson’s Journey: From Amateur to Two-Time Champion Joseph Ferguson, originally from Oklahoma, started playing poker over 30 years ago while studying in Iowa. He now works as an estimator in the power supply industry and considers poker his hobby. Despite this, Ferguson has already enjoyed several successes at RGPS stops: ten years ago, he made the final table in Tulsa, and in 2023, he finished 10th at Downstream Casino Resort. In a post-victory interview, Ferguson admitted that he used to play very poorly and didn’t spend much time studying theory, but gradually gained experience by watching others and slowly improving his skills. He jokingly calls himself a “luckbox” (a player who gets lucky often), noting that his style is “shove all-in and pray.” The Joplin win is Ferguson’s biggest achievement: his total live tournament winnings now exceed $100,000. What’s especially meaningful to him is that this is his first RGPS championship ring and only his second major title after his WSOP Circuit win in 2024. Ferguson showed his sense of humor after the triumph: for his winner’s photo, he laid out the cards 8-6-7-5-3-0-9, referencing the 1980s hit “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone. Ferguson emphasizes that he doesn’t plan to change his approach to poker: “It’s just a tournament win. I’m not a pro, I mostly play in Oklahoma, and sometimes make it out to Vegas once or twice a year.” Key Moments at the Final Table: The Power of Pocket Sevens The main theme of the final table was Ferguson’s string of crucial double-ups with pocket sevens. Three times he found himself all-in, and each time 77 brought him victory—twice against higher hands and once against overcards. After the tournament, Ferguson smiled and said, “Sevens are now my favorite hand. I hit a set with them three times and doubled up every time.” These situations are a vivid illustration of how, even in deep-stacked tournament poker, luck can play a decisive role, and making the most of favorable moments can turn the tide even after serious setbacks. Ferguson also noted that the emotional swings at the final table were tough, but he tried to stay calm: “You just have to stay in the moment, deal with disappointment, take a deep breath, and move on.” What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a great example of how even amateur players can achieve big results in live tournaments if they combine experience, resilience, and a bit of luck. Ferguson showed that you don’t have to be a pro or spend a lot of time on theory to win: what matters is not giving up after setbacks and playing to your strengths. The practical takeaway for PPPoker players is not to underestimate the power of discipline and mental toughness. Even if you’re short-stacked or have lost several big pots, there’s always a chance to come back if you keep your cool and make thoughtful decisions. Plus, Ferguson’s success with the same hand highlights the importance of believing in your strategy and not being afraid to play aggressively when the situation calls for it. Finally, the RGPS format—with affordable buy-ins and a friendly atmosphere—is very similar in spirit to club games on PPPoker. This proves that regular practice in online clubs can be great preparation for live tournaments at any level. Stay tuned for news, take part in club events, and don’t miss your chance to shine—maybe the next ring or trophy will be yours!