Appalachian Figures
A Garrett County life
Darvin C. Moon grew up and worked around Oakland, Maryland, in the western Panhandle at the foot of Backbone Mountain. He built a small logging operation with family, played home-game tournaments at places like the Elks Lodge, and preferred the quiet of the woods to the bright lights of Las Vegas. That local, working-stiff identity never left him, even when he sat under TV glare with the chip lead at the World Series of Poker.
Birth, dates, and family
Moon’s obituary lists his birth date as October 30, 1963, and his death at age 56 in September 2020, with services handled by Newman Funeral Homes in Oakland. A mirror of the funeral notice preserves the biographical details and survivors. Some media list October 1, 1963 instead, but the funeral-home record is the closest primary source and is preferred here.
“Just a logger from Maryland”
In 2009, Moon won a $130 satellite at Wheeling Island Casino that sent him to poker’s Main Event. He arrived in Las Vegas as a self-taught amateur who learned from TV and low-stakes games at home. By Day 8 he was the story of the tournament, the logger with a Saints cap and a big stack who kept saying he was lucky. Contemporary reporting from the Washington Post captured his Oakland roots and no-frills attitude, including his preference to avoid the spotlight. Broadcast clips and features from that run still show the moment the wider world found him.
The ride of 2009
Moon entered the November final table as chip leader and battled through a marathon session before finishing runner-up to 21-year-old Joe Cada. The Post’s same-week wrap explains how the match swung late, and TIME’s capsule of the final hand places the chips in the middle for nearly seventy percent of the table’s total. CardRoom and ESPN coverage further reinforced Moon’s everyman narrative. His official WSOP profile records the $5.18 million payday, which remains almost all of his WSOP earnings.
Turning down the spotlight
After 2009, Moon went home. He told reporters he would keep logging, and he became known for declining lucrative sponsorships because he did not want to answer to anyone. The Post noted his refusal and his habit of wearing the same Saints hat because he liked cheering for underdogs. He returned briefly for televised events the next year, then settled back into a life that looked a lot like the one he had before Vegas.
A local business on the record
Public records also show “Darvin Moon and Runner-Up Properties, LLC” in state environmental enforcement. The Maryland Department of the Environment documented a settlement in 2013 related to a timber harvest off Steyer Mine Road near Oakland, with a $25,000 payment to the Clean Water Fund after sediment-control and waterway-construction violations. A separate Maryland State Archives report summarizes the underlying field findings and corrective actions. These documents confirm Moon’s active operation in the local timber trade.
Death and remembrance
The World Series of Poker publicly confirmed Moon’s passing on September 20, 2020, praising him as an inspiration who starred in one of the most memorable final tables. Obituary details remained available through the funeral-home notice and its mirror. Regional poker press followed with respectful obituaries.
Results and records at a glance
WSOP official: 2 WSOP cashes, $5,185,974 in WSOP earnings, runner-up in the 2009 Main Event.
Career totals: $5.21 million in live tournament winnings compiled by The Hendon Mob database.
Why his story matters here
Moon’s arc resonates in Appalachia because it never stopped being a mountain story. A Garrett County logger took one wild swing at the world stage, then went home to work the same hills and look after the same people. For many in the region, that choice is the point. The fame was temporary. The roots were permanent.
Watch and listen
For researchers and readers who want to hear Moon’s voice directly, a long-form interview on The Scoop and ESPN’s 2009 coverage capture his manner and outlook in his own words.
Sources & Further Reading
Newman Funeral Homes obituary for Darvin C. Moon, mirrored on Tribute Archive. Tribute Archive
WSOP player profile for Darvin Moon. WSOP.com
WSOP confirmation of death on X. X (formerly Twitter)
Maryland Department of the Environment press release naming Darvin Moon and Runner-Up Properties, LLC. Maryland News
Maryland State Archives, Office of the Attorney General environmental enforcement report referencing Runner-Up Properties. Maryland State Archives
“The Scoop — Darvin Moon,” post-2009 interview. YouTube
ESPN/WSOP 2009 broadcast segments, Day 7 and Day 8. YouTube+1
J. Freedom du Lac, “Out of Woods, Into Casino,” Washington Post. The Washington Post
J. Freedom du Lac, “The Paul Bunyan of Texas Hold ’Em,” Washington Post. The Washington Post
J. Freedom du Lac, “Hands down, Moon’s magic ride ends in a second,” Washington Post. The Washington Post
TIME, “21-Year-Old Wins World Series of Poker” and “Joe Cada, Poker’s New Champion.” TIME+1
Las Vegas Sun, “$5.1 million later, life goes on for Darvin Moon.” Las Vegas Sun
Las Vegas Review-Journal, obituary with WSOP confirmation. Las Vegas Review-Journal
PokerNews, obituary and career context. Poker News
The Hendon Mob, results and stats. The Hendon Mob Poker Database
Find a Grave entry for burial location, Tasker Family Cemetery, Oakland, MD. Use as a locator only. YouTube