Day 1C ends at WSOP

It was another late night for many of the 1 743 players who entered the Day 1C heat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, which closed with 650 players still in the game and headed for Day 2 B.

Shock early departures (see previous InfoPowa report) were Jennifer Tilly and Phil Laak, and they were followed to the exit by Light Heavyweight World Boxing Champion Antonio Tarver, Mike Matusow and former champ Greg Raymer during the long afternoon and evening.

These were just some of the big names that busted out - others included aces like Phil Ivey, Andy Bloch, Men "The Master" Nguyen, David Sklansky, Katja Thater, Shannon Elizabeth, Ted Lawson, T.J. Cloutier, Kenna James, Steve Brecher, Vanessa Rousso, Gavin Griffin and rapper Nelly.

Still going strong are Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, who battles on with the likes of Aaron Lerner, Fabrice Soulier, Toto Leonidas, Bill Gazes, Jon Friedberg, Darrell Dicken, J.C. Tran, Hasan Habib, Lee Watkinson, Todd Brunson, Allen Cunningham, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Robert Varkonyi, Steve Dannenmann, former champ Chris Moneymaker, Humberto Brenes, Phil Gordon, Amnon Filippi and Ciaran O'Leary.

Four of the five WSOP champions who started Day 1C are still in the running, Greg Raymer being the only one eliminated thus far.

Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, who has earlier entertained the crown with characteristic banter and a mock tackle on an advertiser was frank about his dismissal, smiling ruefully and saying: "I suck. You play bad and you get what you deserve.I misplayed two hands"

With time running out, play slowed to a crawl as contestants tried to stay in the game, and 10 minutes from the close there were still at least 650 survivors of Day 1C

Jeff Norman held the chip lead at the end of Day 1C on 281 300, followed closely by Tom Bernard (248 900) and Carl Olson (226 100)