Darvin Moon finished 2nd in the 2009 World Series of Poker, winning $5.18 million. Although Darvin is an amateur, many times he demonstrated an uncanny ability to make the right call at the right time. Sometimes he was just plain lucky. In the video, Darvin demonstrates the power of engaging the other party. Summary: Darvin Moon was born on and is 57 years old. Previously city included Mt Lake Park MD. Darvin also answers to Darvin Clifford Moon and Darvin C Moon, and perhaps a couple of other names.
The year 2020 got a bit worse on Saturday evening. After a surgical procedure, former World Series of Poker final tablist Darvin Moon passed away due to complications from that surgery. He was only 56 years old.
Brightest Light Shines Twice As Bright
The New Orleans Saints-capped Moon is known as the lumberjack from the East Coast (who had never flown on a plane) who stormed through the field in the 2009 World Series of Poker Championship Event. That 6494-player field battled it out for two weeks, with Jeff Shulman (son of CardPlayer Magazine owner Barry Shulman) and Phil Ivey being the “names” that would eventually make it to the final table. But the chip leader was Moon, who was in control of the event from the start and held a dominant lead going into the “November Nine” that year.
Instead of going on the tournament circuit (all the players received ninth place money at that time), Moon reportedly headed back to his farm in Maryland. He would report back in November and play for another couple of days before succumbing to Joe Cada in heads up play. The second-place prize of slightly more than $5.1 million was more than enough for Moon, who never sought out poker success.
Over the life of his tournament poker career, Moon earned $5,210,576. He was happier to be playing in his local casino in West Virginia than in hitting the tournament trail, but he did show up when he wanted to for play. His Hendon Mob resume is dotted with trips to New Orleans, Florida, Las Vegas and New York. His final recorded tournament cash was in 2016 at a Rio Daily Deepstack event.
Poker World Remembers Moon
Moon became a huge friend of Todd Anderson, who was one of the founders of the Heartland Poker Tour and who passed along the information regarding the passing of Moon. Over Twitter, Anderson paid tribute to his friend, saying “The best person I ever met through poker is Darvin Moon. A man of integrity and honor. And quite possibly the most interesting person I’ve ever known. Truly.”
Darvin Moon Murder
The WSOP Twitter feed even took a moment to eulogize Moon on its feed. “Thanks for the memories Darvin moon (sic). You inspired so many people and starred in one of the most memorable final tables in WSOP history. We will never forget. Rest In Peace.”
Former WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla also chimed in on the passing of Moon, including many of his interactions with the man. “With Darvin, the more you got to know him, the more you wanted to know,” Dalla reflected in a special essay he wrote on Moon’s passing. “He spoke a simple language but with profound depth. I don’t think Darvin was capable of telling a lie, which makes me wonder if he ever successfully bluffed anyone in poker.”
Darvin Moon Wsop
“As for poker, Darvin never pretended to be anything other than Darvin, and that was fine,” Dalla continued. “He could easily afford to play in big cash games with his millions and could have played in far more tournaments. But Darvin never wanted that lifestyle. It would have kept him out of the hills, away from his trees, and required too much flying on great big planes.”
No announcements have been made as to visitations or services for Moon at this time. Poker News Daily passes along their condolences to Moon’s wife, Wendy, and the Moon family at this time of sadness.
Self-employed logger and amateur poker player Darvin Moon has reportedly passed away at the age of 56. The Oakland, Maryland resident succumbed to complications from surgery on Saturday, Sept. 19, according to a social media post from Heartland Poker Tour co-founder Todd Anderson.
“The best person I ever met through poker is Darvin Moon,” said Anderson in the post. “A man of integrity and honor. And quite possibly the most interesting person I’ve ever known.”
While Moon not was not a professional poker player, he very nearly won the biggest and most prestigious annual tournament the game has to offer. In 2009, the self-taught, home game hero won his way into the $10,000 buy-in WSOP main event via a $130 buy-in satellite tournament at a West Virginia casino.
Moon managed to navigate his way though a field of 6,494 players to make the final table as the chip leader. He outlasted a number of big names at the final table, including 10-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey and Card Player’s own Jeff Shulman to make it down to heads-up play against Joe Cada. Moon ultimately finished in second place, turning his $130 investment into just shy of $5.2 million.
Moon recorded six cashes in live poker tournaments outside of his huge run in the WSOP main event, totaling around $23,000 in earnings. He told Card Player in 2010 that he didn’t have much interest in becoming a fixture on the poker scene.
“I’ve always been poor. I can be poor after this,” Moon said. He went on to explain why he would more or less return to his same lifestyle, saying, 'We’ve lived on 20 to 25 thousand dollars a year for 26 years. I can now live the rest of my life comfortably. I’m [still] working, because my whole family was raised that way.”
Moon bought a few investment properties and some pickup trucks for his family with his poker winnings. He also purchased the farm that he grew up on. Otherwise, he went back to work running his logging company, despite perhaps no longer relying on the income it provided.
“I don’t really think it’s changed us as people, but it’s definitely changed our lives,” Moon’s wife Wendy said in 2010. “It changed our lives completely, but we’ve met a lot of good, new people. I’m really proud of Darvin.”
Players from around the poker community shared their condolences over the weekend, including fellow 2009 WSOP final tablist Steve Begleiter.
Very sad to hear about Darvin’s passing. We shared the final table in 2009 and through that experiences and other conversations over the years got to see the incredibly decent and high character individual he was. He’ll be missed. Condolences to Wendy and his family.
Darvin Moon Obituary Oakland Md
— Steve Begleiter (@begspoker) September 20, 2020
Darvin Moon Poker
Moon sat down for an interview for Card Player TV’s The Scoop at the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. That conversation can be viewed below.