Darvin Moon, the chip leader of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event entering the final table in November, joined the ESPN.com poker show “Inside Deal.” Also appearing was Absolute Poker pro Lacey Jones.
“Inside Deal” is released every Tuesday on ESPN.com and aired its ninth episode this week. The poker franchise began with discussion of the Caesars Cup, which saw Annette Obrestad lead the European team to victory over Daniel Negreanu’s Team Americas. “Inside Deal” host Bernard Lee explained, “The Americans were no slouches. They had 45 WSOP bracelets among them. Overall, Europe got the best of it, but there was some luck involved as well.” The Caesars Cup featured a series of heads-up and two-on-two matches, with the European team trouncing the American squad by a final score of 4-1.
2010 will mark the first WSOP that Obrestad will be of legal age to play on U.S. soil. She took down the 2007 WSOP Europe Main Event and became a formidable force in the poker world long before her 21st birthday. Lee explained, “I think it’s safe to say Annette Obrestad will be the most anticipated 21 year-old ever to enter the WSOP.” Other news reviewed by “Inside Deal” included Paul Zimbler playing poker for nearly 75 straight hours in the name of charity and November Nine member Jeff Shulman receiving coaching from Phil Hellmuth to improve his short-handed game.
Jones joined the show donning an Absolute Poker logo and explained that WSOP Europe sponsor Betfair matched Zimbler’s fundraising efforts dollar for dollar, with ₤28,000 being doubled. On her team’s win in the Dream Team Poker Media Event held during the 2009 WSOP, Jones told “Inside Deal” hosts Lee and Laura Lane, “When you’re playing on a team, you have friends to root on. If maybe you didn’t go far, they do, so you’re sitting there cheering them on.” Jones ultimately took 11th in the event.
Jones was a participant in the Ladies Event held during the Borgata Poker Open, where Abraham Korotki, a male, took down the tournament. Jones commented, “I don’t mind that there was a guy at the table,” but didn’t approve of his demeanor. Jones added that a transsexual was in the event as well, who felt more comfortable playing in a Ladies’ event than an open event. On being one of the male-dominated game’s most recognized females, Jones commented, “There are things I can do to trap these guys and let them keep trying to steal my blinds. Eventually, I’ll pop them and take their chips.”
A reticent Moon joined the show wearing a New Orleans Saints baseball cap. Moon will be present for the coin toss of the November 30th Monday Night Football game between the Saints and New England Patriots. Moon, a logger by trade, revealed he has no e-mail address or credit card and his trip to the WSOP Main Event was just his second time ever being on an airplane. During the course of a normal day, Moon wakes up at 6:00am, eats breakfast, works until 4:00pm, and then participates in family activities.
On his odds to defeat the rest of the final table in the WSOP Main Event, which includes poker pros Phil Ivey, Jeff Shulman, and James Akenhead, Moon told “Inside Deal” viewers, “I don’t feel my odds are good to win because everyone there is better than I am. I have the least experience of anyone there.” Moon does not plan to take lessons prior to the WSOP Main Event finale and instead will stick with his tight strategy.
Moon is the lone representative of the November Nine to lack a sponsorship deal. On what he’s looking for in a potential agreement, Moon told Lane and Lee, “A lot of money for being at that final table and then when I leave Las Vegas, the sponsorship is over.” He revealed that no company has come forward with an offer matching that description.
Check out ESPN “Inside Deal” every Tuesday on ESPN.com.