WSOP November Nine Profile -- Darvin MoonAmateur Holds Hefty Chip Lead at the Main Event |
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Darvin Moon may be more comfortable with a chainsaw in his hands and work boots on his feet, but the small-town logger from Oakland, Maryland, has more than held his own at the 2009 WSOP main event. As play suspended for the November Nine, Moon had established himself as the overwhelming chip leader with nearly 59 million in chips — more than 24 million ahead of his closest competitor.
But don’t think for one second that his enormous chip lead has gotten to his head.
“There were 6,494 players in (the main event) this year, and there were probably 6,300 people in it who are better than I am,” said Moon.
In a time when many poker players proclaim their greatness and pat themselves on the pack for their play, Moon says that he is just on the run of his life.
How He Got Here
Moon isn’t your typical main-event entrant. He’s never had a lot of money to his name, and he genuinely doesn’t seem to care about earning any fame or notoriety. But the 46-year-old logger found himself with the opportunity to play in the biggest tournament of the year thanks to a satellite tournament he won in neighboring West Virginia.
He entered the $130 qualifier because he loves the competition of poker. Once he won it, he was faced with a decision. He could play or he could take the $10,000 buy-in and return home.
His family was split on his choice. His dad told him to take the money and run, his wife Wendy said to do what he wanted, and his brother encouraged him to play.
Moon was thinking about investing the $10,000 into his small, three-man logging business that also employed his brother and his brother-in-law.
“The timber industry is terrible right now,” said Moon. “I told my brother that I was just going to take the money because it’ll help us with the business.”
His brother’s response: “You’re a fool. Play. We don’t need that $10,000 in the business. We’ve never had it there, we don’t need it now.”
So, in the spirit of good competition, Moon decided to play. Two weeks later, he was guaranteed to win more than $1.26 million, but with his immense lead, he will likely win much more. The winner of the 2009 main event will receive more than $8.5 million.
Incredibly, Moon seems almost indifferent to the sum of money, and he’s expressed that sentiment throughout the main event.
“I’ve always been poor. I can be poor after this,” said Moon, who likely will never have to face that reality again.
Asked what he might buy with his new fortune, not too much comes to Moon’s mind.
“My wife wants a lawnmower, but we don’t need a lawnmower,” said Moon, in the final days of the main event. “But I told my dad if I win, I’m buying him a new pink Cadillac.”
The mild-mannered and quiet-spoken Moon clearly has a sense of humor. The idea of watching his dad, who has been in the sawmill business for 45 years, drive around in a pink car makes him smile. So does the look on his friends’ faces, who are diehard NFL Pittsburgh Steelers fan, every time he sports his New Orleans Saints cap.
His Start in Poker
Moon first played cards when he was just 12 years old.
“I played seven-card stud with my grand dad years ago,” said Moon, but he admits it wasn’t exactly a profitable or successful hobby. “He beat me like a dog, and got mad if I ever won.”
But he only picked up Texas hold’em three years ago.
“Me, my oldest brother, and eight or 10 other guys, we used to play softball all the time, but we got a little too old for softball. We had to find something else to do,” said Moon. “We started playing at fire halls about two or three times a week with 60 or 70 people in every tournament. We raise money for the fire halls and for charities and stuff.”
Most of the time, the tournaments feature a buy-in of just $30. Moon has never played poker online, preferring the company of his local competitors.
“I’ve lived in Oakland, Maryland, my whole life. It’s a really laid-back, small town. I know there are more rooms in this casino (the Rio) than in the city limits of Oakland,” said Moon.
His Chances in November
Moon has been telling anyone who interviews him that he is merely the product of an incredible run of cards. In a year in which skill and experience have shown their significance — players who identified themselves as “pros” or “semi-pros” won 46 of the 56 bracelets bestowed this summer — Moon is once again reminding everyone that anyone can win.
“It’s easy to play when you get pocket aces six times a day and flop [a set] three out of six times,” said Moon. “My run in this tournament is pure luck. I haven’t had to show any skill at all. I haven’t been down to the point where I had to fight to get my chip stack back up.”
But while he claims has simply been the luckiest player in Las Vegas, he has played well on the ESPN broadcasts of the main event. He folded pocket tens to a four-bet preflop when fellow November Niner Kevin Schaffel had pocket aces, slow-played pocket kings to eliminate Andrew “luckychewy” Lichtenberger late in the tournament, and executed a nice bluff with only jack-high after one of his opponents made a continuation-bet on the flop.
Moon may indeed have been hit by the deck, but he has easily shown that he has some game, as well.
“If I win it, that’ll be the last day they see me until next year, when I come back and play again,” said Moon, explaining that’s why he has yet to sign a sponsorship deal with any poker site. “They wanted to tie me up for a year with them. So, if they want me to go somewhere, I had to go … When I get done here, I’m going back to work in my little town, and I’m going to get away from everybody.”
Clearly uncomfortable in the spotlight, he says the only reason he accepts interviews with the media is because he thought it’d be rude if he didn’t.
Still, Moon is thrilled that he decided to play the main event.
“This is something I’ll never forget, but something I’ll probably never go through again. I can’t imagine going on tour and doing this every day,” Moon said as the final nine was reached. “I mean, I envy those guys. Those guys are at a level 10 times above me, because they can handle all of that mental stuff. I couldn’t mentally handle this all of the time. If I had to play two more days, I’d go down.”
Although the four-month delay might end Moon’s hot streak, it’s obvious that the time off will help him recharge. Whether or not that rest will help him take down the title, only time will tell.
Watch Darvin Moon in a Card Player TV interview in the final stages of the 2009 main event:
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in July, but has been updated in preparation for this weekend’s final table. Check out Card Player’s other WSOP Profiles on James Akenhead, Antoine Saout, Phil Ivey, Kevin Schaffel, Joe Cada, Jeff Shulman, Steven Begleiter, and Eric Buchman.
Comments
holdem4food
over 2 years ago
GL Darvin ... but a little hint on interviews .... take your hand away from your mouth (ie the cardplayer.com interview)
gonzo313
over 2 years ago
Nice guy. Refreshing change of pace from all the egomaniacs in the poker world.
Rachael
over 2 years ago
good luck to him he seems like a nice guy.
Runts_Son
over 2 years ago
i hope he doubles up ivey
paleni
over 2 years ago
lol! go ivey! I want someone to win this who really wants it and will give back to the poker community :)
glennevert
over 2 years ago
Saying things like "I have been telling anyone who interviews me that it is merely the product of an incredible run of cards", and "It’s easy to play when you get pocket aces six times a day and flop [a set] three out of six times,” is something the poker world needs more of, humility! I decided to root for this guy the second I found out he was from my area in western, MD. I will be a life long fan because as a poker player, I want to conduct myself like him. Go Darvin!!! He is great for poker!
pokerpro1078
over 2 years ago
haha ya me to double up ivey lol ...nice guy tho
noudint
over 2 years ago
Well said Gonzo. It is definitely a refreshing change. On a sick heater though
seamarfan269
over 2 years ago
Mr. Moon, the WSOP ME is now a FOUR month competition instead of a week and you, sir, are playing it very well. I'm not buying the "aw shucks" routine for a second as i see it every single day from guys who constantly roll over the nuts. ps. loving the Saints cap as i live in Louisiana. Nuff Said.
ssslipnssslide
over 2 years ago
Darvin...wear sunscreen man!! That Las Vegas sun is killing you. I mean...dayum your face is red as hell and I dont think you are blushing.
jokerhigh
over 2 years ago
YO DAVIN YOU THE GREATEST KNOCKIN EFANDIARI WITH A THREE YOU THE ONE LEAVE IVEY FOR THIRD
AFTER EASTGATE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN THE REALM OF REALITY ~*!&*~&!^@$#$%#&@&&^~*~*!&&^#@$$#%&^~*~*%!&%$%~*~KING DAVID OF JERUSALEM~*!&*~LET THE PLANETS DANCE CUZ THE GALAXY AINT THAT HEAVY~&!*&!~~!@#$%^&**&^%$@~~
joeystackz
over 2 years ago
Its very refreshing to have a guy like this in the lead going into the final table and will absolutely be a fan favorite like phillips was last year. Its hard
not to read this interview and story and not root for this guy.
good luck
Richenough
over 2 years ago
Its awesome to see another guy who is humble at the main event. But in truth- people say one thing in front of cameras but around his drinking buddies say a total different thing. Soooo... I'm not BUYING IT EITHER. Anyway, good luck on WSOP ME -- I hope u make at least 3rd place. Remember Jerry Yang wouldve never won if his table waited 4 months before playing again. I see same thing here w/ Moon--- GO IVEY!!
permanentilt
over 2 years ago
If he doesn't get a sponsorship deal then it would be AWESOME if he won! The only guy there not repping online like a corporate sellout!
But I ofcourse want Ivey to win as well, he is just the greatest of all time, save Stu and Johnny, he DESERVES it.
"go ivey! I want someone to win this who really wants it and will give back to the poker community"
but I gotta say, you think Ivey is gonna give BACK to the poker community???? LOL All that guy does is TAKE TAKE TAKE!!! It's ok tho HAHA
glennevert
over 2 years ago
Hey Richenough,
I play in one of the poker games as Darvin. I have yet to meet him, but every person that knows him there has said nothing that indicates he is not as advertised. And these are people that are his "drinking buddies". I hope that helps!
kurtwpg
over 2 years ago
Good call Paleni. God forbid someone like Moon should win and bring some more live ones to the tables.
maxima191
over 2 years ago
Darvin Moon is not a world class poker representative, never mind a personal representative for life. The guy is a typical hermit who want to be left alone after the WSOP is over to chop lots of wood. He keeps claiming he doesn't know this and he doesn't know that....that he is a good ol country boy....please....if it wasn't for luck, that idiot would been back chopping wood on day 1. Guys who share the Gold mentality and all the other flash in the pan borderline trainable make poker a sport of luck, not skill. That's why it will never be legal online. These guys prove poker is luck and not a skill of the mind