New ambassador role for Darvin Moon

News by Dan on March 15, 2011

Darvin Moon, the runner-up in 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, has become the first ambassador for the U.S.-based Heartland Poker Tour (HPT).

Darvin Moon

The HPT, founded in 2005 by Todd Anderson and Greg Lang, is a popular “minor league” poker tour that offers an alternative to centralized, expensive national tournaments, such as the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, that require a great deal of costly travel and high-cost buy-ins. The HPT has paid out well around $20 dollars in prize money in the last 6 years and this year includes fifteen events in casinos all across the country.

One of the main reasons for the HPT’s success is its comprehensive system of “qualifier tournaments.” A series of satellites to the championship event of an HPT stop allow 20% of the field for each main event to qualify from the initial outlay of a very low buy-in. An additional factor – that a number of the tournaments are held in Indian casinos – means that poker players as young as eighteen are legible to participate. The HPT also has its own TV show, which is shown on comcast. The HPT has also signed a contract with the Disabled American Veterans that makes them our sponsored charity partner, the Tour supports the nation’s heroes by designating a portion of its prize pools to the nonprofit organization.

Moon, the first player to be branded by the tour, will be adorned by the HPT logo throughout the season as he plays several tournaments in its name. He was considered to be “un-signable” after refusing sponsorship during his run as a member of the November Nine, declaring: “I don’t want a boss. I’ve come this far on my own; I don’t want to answer to anybody now.”

His signing to the HPT marks a changed man and attitude: “I’m very comfortable with the HPT folks. They’re like family.” A sentiment which has been mirrored by HPT President, Todd Anderson: “Darvin is our kind of guy. He’s worked hard his entire life and now lives the dream that attracts so many to the game.”

Moon, a former logger from Maryland, made his fortune at the 2009 WSOP after winning through $130-satellite tournament and turning that into his second-place prize of $5.18 million, losing the heads-up to champion Joe Cada.

Notable HPT players who have gone on to bigger things, include: Cody Slaubaugh who has finished 2nd in a WSOP event this year, won a WSOP Circuit event and the PokerStars Sunday Million; Mike Banducci won a WSOP bracelet in the $1000 No Limit re-buy and has cashed WSOP Circuit events; Mike Simon, the 2006 WPT Reno World Poker Challenge champion; and Brook Lyter second at the 2006 WPT PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.