Matt Savage - Poker Player

Biography

Matt Savage is the executive director of the World Poker Tour. In addition to poker, he has hosted the Invitational Golf Tournament for 28 consecutive years. He has won five GPI awards and over eight Poker Hall of Fame nominations. His contribution to the poker world is evident; he has directed over 450 televised poker episodes.

Background

Matt Savage started his career as a service technician for an alarm company but realised Poker had more money. He started as a chip seller and then became a dealer at Garden City, where he later moved to Bay 101. Due to Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, he couldn’t deal with cards and started working as a floor manager. He later ranked above and became a tournament director.

Matt Savage Poker Career

Along with being a tournament director, Savage is a player himself. He finished fifth in the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and walked away with $32,396. His other poker innings are moderate, but he does have experience at the table.

Matt Tournament Managing Career

While playing in poker tournaments around the Bay Area, he realised that every casino has different rules, creating confusion for players. He decided to do something about it, and at the WSOP, he suggested the tournament director make a standardised rule.

At first, everyone told him it was impossible; however, with the help of Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Dave Lamb, he established the Tournament Directors Association (TDA), which sets the official rules of poker tournaments.

His contribution was recognised, and in 2022, WSOP invited him to run the WSOP as a tournament director.

Today, Matt is an executive tour director of the WPT. He handles different casinos, organises tournaments and works on improving the poker experience for players.

In 2023, he conducted a social experiment that banned electronic devices, headphones, hoodies, and sunglasses at the table and encouraged players to interact. He conducted this experiment because photographers used to complain about not being able to take good pictures.

Matt Savage's Net Worth

Matt Savage’s total live earnings are $155,619.

Matt Savage’s Top Cashes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tournament Directors Association?

TDA, the Tournament Directors Association, works to standardise poker tournament rules worldwide.

Does Matt Savage win any WSOP bracelet?

No. Matt savage has not won the WSOP bracelet. He is not a professional poker player but has cashed in several tournaments, including the 2009 WSOP.