AMA with Tournament Director MATT SAVAGE

[mrickett]

Is it difficult sometimes putting so much time and effort into something that you aren't being paid to do?

[MattSavage]

I have always been passionate about my job, and I take it very seriously. What really bothers me, is when players feel that we are doing the TDA for our own benefits. And I actually took great offense to some of the comments made on Twitter.

[mrickett]

I have always been passionate about my job, and I take it very seriously. What really bothers me, is when players feel that we are doing the TDA for our own benefits. And I actually took great offense to some of the comments made on Twitter.

I saw some of those comments on twitter... I can understand players being worried about that but honestly if they paid closer attention and watched how you guys go about discussing the rules they'd see that it's to make tournaments better for everyone, not only TDs.

[MattSavage]

I saw some of those comments on twitter... I can understand players being worried about that but honestly if they paid closer attention and watched how you guys go about discussing the rules they'd see that it's to make tournaments better for everyone, not only TDs.

Thank you, I feel very strongly that that is the case as well.

[xaviorAK]

Hey Matt, you mentioned your wife travels with you when you're on the road. Do your children travel with you too? How do you balance that?

[MattSavage]

On occasion, my kids do travel with us. I usually try to add a little extra time on to see the sights. My children are great. They keep up in their schoolwork, and we have a great family here to support us.

[Numbr2intheWorld]

Hey Matt, love your work with the TDA and poker tournament rules. I have a couple questions:

1) Obviously having universal tournament rules are important for poker tournaments since it makes it simpler and easier for players to understand what they can and can not do. However, many pros complain that several of the rules are too limiting. Do you think there's a need for a split set of rules for events loaded with amateurs ie the Wsop main event and events with almost exclusively professionals ie the Players Championship or a high roller?

2) What rule would you like to change or implement that your peers do not?

[MattSavage]

Not at all. I do not believe the new universal rules are too limiting. I feel that amateur players should be treated the same as the pros. For the benefit of the game, all players should be treated equal.

I am happy to conform with all TDs with the interest of standardization-which will make it better for players worldwide.

[Ricpoker]

Glad to be online at the same time this event is going on.... couple of questions

--> You said Patience is absolutely essential in job...were you already a patient person before the job or did poker brought out the patience in you?

--> Do you think golf and poker have some similarities?...psychologically speaking...

[MattSavage]

I would say I was pretty patient before poker, but holding every job in a poker room, really helped me learn to see different sides of every issue. I've always felt like treating other employees with respect as well as treating every play with the same respect is the most important aspect of a good manager.

I'm not sure that golf and poker have much similarity... Personally, I am a much different player on the golf course, whether be good or bad.

[mrickett]

Thank you so much for your time, Matt! You stayed and answered our questions for quite a bit longer than we expected and we really appreciate it. Thanks for all the great work you're doing standardizing tournament rules for us.. tournaments will only get better for it in the long run.

Cheers!
---

If you want to learn more about Matt Savage and the Poker TDA you can find more about him below:

Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SavagePoker
Matt Savage's Website: http://www.savagetournaments.com/
Poker TDA Official Website: http://www.pokertda.com/

You can watch the recording from the 2013 Poker TDA Summit from this past weekend here: http://www.pokertda.com/2013-poker-tda-summit-vi/

[ttanaka]

Amazing! Thanks Matt! You, sir, deserve more golf vacations as you are working WAY too hard (of course, we all appreciate it!!!).

The thing I'd like to see in poker more than anything else is for players to play faster.

I'm sure that applies to the golf course as well

(Eric may be the only golfer slower than myself...)

[Eric]

Thanks, Matt.