Time Away Makes This Run More Special for Matt Stout

By Matt Clark

Matt Stout’s first chance at a World Poker Tour title in four years is not taken lightly. A fifth-place finish in Season XII’s WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in the largest field in WPT Main Tour history is close to being followed up by a seat at the final table of the fifth-largest.

Stout is utilizing the “less is more” strategy when he evaluates his tournament volume. A decade on the road is reduced to spot appearances. Stout calls Las Vegas home and has different interests now that use up his time. The Charity Series of Poker and Vegas Golden Knights are on his plate, with Stout playing a role in organizing events for both.

Stout sticks more to cash games now in Las Vegas. His new line of income is apparent with the “CSOP” patch and Knights jersey he’s been wearing throughout the event.

“I’ve been staying in Vegas more,” Stout said. “I’m trying to find a bit more balance in life and not travel as much. It’s been more than a decade on the road. I want to spend more than six months in one place for the first time in my adult life. I think that’s a reasonable request of myself at this stage. I want to have more time with my dog in my own bed.”

When Stout chose to cut down at the start of 2018, he still envisioned that runs like this were possible; he would just need to take advantage when the moment strikes.

“That’s one of the things that I’ve been thinking about is that as I find more balance, having more balance is going to make me play better poker, but also, you don’t get as many opportunities,” Stout said. “You want to make the final table when you do get out and play these events.”

Stout is veteran of two career World Poker Tour finales prior to this one and is also in the process of adding to his 13th cash.

The well of deep runs for Stout dried up a few years ago, but he doesn’t regret his failure to close in the past. This is the business he has chosen.

“I’ve played almost exclusively tournaments for most of my career and after picking such a masochistic career path reduced my level of self-induced psychological distress by focusing on playing my best regardless of the result,” Stout told WPT.com.

Each event represents a learning experience for Stout. Whether he wins, reaches a final table, or is eliminated in the first level, he gains a piece of knowledge to forward onto future events.

“Every final table represents hundreds of hours of hard work I’ve put in at other events I didn’t make it deep in, so I try to remember to really appreciate the experience of each one, play my best, and learn whatever I can,” Stout said.

This run, in particular, is special for Stout. He, like many others, is a fan of the Seminole Hard Rock property and wants to do well when he supports the tournaments held in South Florida.

The limitations of Stout’s calendar prevent him from being able to look forward to what might be next should a tournament end prematurely. Stout wants to ensure he maximizes this chance for who knows when the next one will be.

“This run stands out for me because it’s the big final table I’ve made since I started limiting my travel schedule,” Stout said. “It’s also pretty special since I’m very friendly with the staff here and it’s nice to know that there are a lot of people in the room rooting for me to do well.”

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