Darvin Moon

Darvin Moon (October 1, 1963 – September 19, 2020) was an American self-employed logger and amateur poker player who was the runner-up of the 2009 World Series of Poker, (WSOP) US$10,000 no-limit Texas hold'em Main Event.

It was his first time playing in the World Series of Poker.

In 1988, Moon's long time girlfriend, Cathy Ford went missing from Gormania, West Virginia (near Oakland, Maryland).

Even though her body was never found, Grant County deputy sheriff Paul Ferrell was convicted of her abduction and murder based on a large body of other evidence.

Critics of Ferrell's conviction explore two alternate theories: one where Cathy Ford was still alive and one where Moon was the culprit in her disappearance.

The evidence against Ferrell included that the victim's blood was found in Ferrell's mobile home, her burnt out vehicle was found in his yard, he used his authority as deputy sheriff to prevent searchers from finding the vehicle and had engaged in predatory behavior toward other women.

He started playing frequently around 2006 and studied the game by watching televised poker.

Moon regularly played home games at such places as fire departments, Elks Lodges, and American Legion buildings.

Moon, who taught himself how to play poker, ran a small logging company in the Maryland Panhandle before earning a 2009 World Series seat by winning a $130 satellite tournament.

Moon earned the chip lead early in the tournament, and eventually entered the final table as the chip leader, with about 30 percent of the chips in play.

Although Moon briefly lost the lead, he eventually regained it after eliminating veteran players like Steve Begleiter and Phil Ivey.

Moon ultimately lost heads up against Joe Cada, earning Moon US$5.18 million for his second-place finish.

Although some criticized his playing style and lack of experience, Moon was also praised for his working stiff personality and self-deprecating manner.

Moon earned his seat in the 2009 World Series of Poker no-limit Texas hold'em Main Event by winning a $130 satellite tournament at the Wheeling Island Casino in Wheeling, West Virginia.

He lost in two Wheeling Island tournaments before finishing in first place on his third attempt, winning a $10,000 main event seat and $6,000 for expenses.

The event marked Moon's first time playing in the WSOP, as well as visiting Las Vegas, Nevada and riding in a commercial plane.

Due to the econommic downturn's impact on the logging business, Moon considered keeping the $10,000 instead of entering the tournament, but decided to play after visiting the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino and watching World Series games there.

On the first day of the tournament, Moon was dealt pocket aces six times and got three-of-a-kind on the flop three times.

He performed well on the first day and continued a successful streak throughout the tournament, although he himself proclaimed it was luck.

He eliminated several professional poker players during the tournament, including David Benyamine.

He eventually obtained the chip lead and kept it until the seventh day of play.

At that time, he fell to tenth place, but won a few big hands to recover and ended the day back in the lead.

He eliminated Billy Kopp in one of the biggest hands in the tournament when his led to a higher flush than Kopp's.

Moon entered the final table as the chip leader, holding 58.6 million chips, or about 30 percent of the chips in play.

During the final table, Moon eliminated Steve Begleiter and seasoned pro Phil Ivey.

In both cases, Moon was behind but caught cards to win; Ivey lost with A-K to Moon's A-Q when a queen came up on the flop, and Begleiter's pocket queens lost to Moon's A-Q when he caught an ace on the river.

Moon lost the chip lead during the November Nine game, but his elimination of Begleiter brought him back into the chip lead with 63.9 million chips.

He made it to the final two players and went heads up against Joe Cada, with Moon at 58.85 million and Cada at 135.95 million.

Moon participated in the 2010 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, but lost in the second round to poker professional Annie Duke.

He also competed in the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event, but was eliminated on Day 2.

Moon lived in the western Maryland town of Oakland, at the foot of Backbone Mountain.

Prior to entering the World Series of Poker, Moon lived in a 14 by trailer with his wife, Wendy.

Moon owned and operated a small logging company with other family members.

Most of his days were spent in pine forests scattered throughout the Maryland Panhandle.

Moon taught himself how to play poker, and he first started playing with his grandfather at a young age.

Moon briefly recovered the chip lead from Cada, but lost it during the 79th heads-up hand, where Cada bet 3 million chips with his J-9 on a 10-5-9-10 turn after the flop was checked, Moon check-raised all in with 8–7.

Cada called with his remaining 58 million chips, won the hand and regained the chip lead and the momentum for the duration of the match.

Commentators later criticized Moon for making such an expensive bluff for a small pot, and Moon seemed visibly disappointed after the game.

Storms Reback, of All In Magazine, said the hand was a crucial moment for Moon, and that his fatigue from it may have resulted in a bad call in the final hand of the tournament.

After 18 hours of play, Moon ended up finishing second against Cada when his succumbed to Cada's.