Final 9 prepare for WSOP final table

LAS VEGAS – Darvin Moon’s preparations for a run at the $8.55 million top prize at the World Series of Poker included an extended hunting trip last month in Wyoming, where he slept in a two-room cabin without electricity and pretty much avoided any contact with the outside world.

The 46-year-old self-employed logger from Oakland, Md., will get plenty of attention this weekend as the chip leader heading into Saturday’s final table of the richest tournament in poker.

Moon said he played some cards, but didn’t hire a coach for the 115-day break because he didn’t think he could learn enough to effectively sustain a change to his style.

Moon told The Associated Press he thinks it’s more important for him to prepare for a mental marathon at the no-limit Texas Hold ’em main event – 14 to 17 hours, he predicts, to narrow nine players down to two who will go head to head Monday night.

“I’m not going to come in ninth. ... my plan is to come in first,” Moon said. “You have to have patience.”

And plenty of luck, too, which Moon credits for propelling himself and eight others to the top of a field of 6,494 players at the tournament that began play July 3 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel&Casino in Las Vegas.

Moon’s opponents include Phil Ivey, a 32-year-old poker professional from Las Vegas regarded by many as the best card player alive. Five others at the final table make a living gambling, including 30-year-old Eric Buchman, 21-year-old Joe Cada, 52-year-old Kevin Schaffel, 25-year-old Antoine Saout and 26-year-old James Akenhead.