The clock has ran out on Day 1B play at the World Series of Poker Europe, presented by Betfair. For many, the day ended early as they were eliminated. For others day 1 was all about survival, and for the select few chip accumulation was the story of their starting day.

Daniel Negreanu and Jamie Rosen both stayed solid throughout the last few levels, Daniel finishing with over 150k and Rosen coming in at 139,225. Brian “sbrugby” Townsend (left) was able to get a double up late in the day when his pocket aces held up. He finished with a solid 71,950.

Adam Junglen had to toss a few hands late in the day, losing some ground but still finishing with 41,100. In one hand there was about 4k in the pot preflop and Junglen bet 2,400 on the K86 board. He was min raised to 4,800 and after asking how much the other player had behind (45k) Junglen tossed his hand in giving up on the pot. A little later he opened a pot for 1,050 and the same player he doubled up earlier with pocket fives losing to T-9 moved in over the top for 10,875. Junglen folded showing KQ offsuit and postulating that his opponent had ace rag.

Stephen “Stevie444″ Chidwick (right) had a rough end of the day as well. On a flop of J98 both players checked but with the K turn the other player led for 3k and Steve called. The river was the 6 and this time the bet was 8k to Steve, who had only about 20k total. He made the call only to see the other player turn over the QT for the nuts. That hand left Steve with around the 11,075 chips he finished the day with.

Below are some select chip counts. Full official counts from combined day 1 results are Available Here.

Daniel Negreanu - 154,050
Jamie Rosen - 139,225
Brian “sbrugby” Townsend - 71,950
Barry Greenstein - 46,500
Adam Junglen - 41,100
Tom “durrrr” Dwan - 41,025
Jeff “ActionJeff” Garza - 35,900
Stephen “Stevie444″ Chidwick - 11,075

Day 2 play starts at 1pm local time tomorrow. There should be just over 180 players left in the field after the day ones are combined, with the top 36 making the money.

Here are the official top 15 chip counts going into day 2.  For full chip counts and seating assignments see the link above.

• September 29, 2008 -- Heating Up
• September 28, 2008 -- Lights On
• September 29, 2008 -- Finish Strong, Day 2 Complete
• September 28, 2008 -- After Dinner Mint

With the lights, cameras and TV crews swarming around it is somewhere between dificult and impossible to get into the area right around the feature table to see what is going on.  The multi-leveled Empire Casino does provide some views of the table, though none from a vantage point where cards or bet amounts could be seen with any hope of accuracy.

The distant view is good enough to see who is there though, and more importantly who is not.  There will be no amazing story of back to back World Series of Poker Europe Main Event victory for Annette “Annette_15″ Obrestad (right) this year.  From this point on anything having to do with her and this tournament will be a promotional media based affair.  We have been told from those around the feature table that Annette’s pocket kings fell to the A-Q of Marco Traniello, presumably all in preflop. 

Shane “Shaniac” Schleger has was also eliminated from the feature table earlier today. 

Other players missing in action include Jason “JCarver” Somerville who did not survive long into level 5 with his severe short stack, and Yevginiy “Atimos” Timoshenko (left) - one of my pre-tournament pick to go deep.

Adam Junglen is back on the right track though, recently picking up chips with a raise after a flop of 872.  The other player in the pot bet out on the flop for 2,150 into the 3,400 chip pot.  Junglen raised to 6,600 and his opponent folded the AK face up saying “I wanted you to raise me preflop.”

Day 1A started with 159 players and finished with 86 remaining.  Todays numbers were a bit larger with 203 players starting the day.  At last check the field was down to 14 tables and no more than 126 remaining players.  That number will drop as the night continues and around 185 players are expected to make it to day 2 play out of the 362 total entrants.  The number of entrants may be off by 1 or 2 as the official registration list won’t be out till later tonight.

• September 28, 2008 -- Win With The Queen High
• September 28, 2008 -- Lights On
• September 28, 2008 -- Running Good
• September 28, 2008 -- Another Day, Another Day 1

In the realm of internet poker, a techno song titled “Win With The Ace High,” has gained a lot of popularity over the last few months after it became a staple on poker entertainment radio show PokerRoad Radio. Co-host Gavin Smith just got moved to a table where he saw a hand that makes calling with the ace high, as the line goes in the song “I call with the ace high, you can’t fool me,” look like childs play.

In a 3 way pot preflop with Gavin Smith, Jeff “ActionJeff” Garza, and Per Ummer all in for a enough to put around 4k in the pot. On the AT3 flop Jeff bet 3k when Per checked to him and after Gavin folded Ummer made the call. With the 2 on the turn Ummer and Garza both checked to see the T hit on the river.

So the hand has progressed to the river with the board showing AT32T and the action on Ummer. He paused in thought before counting out 5,800 worth of chips to put in the pot. Jeff thought for a few minutes before finally making the call. Since Jeff called it was on Ummer to show his hand first, and he decided he had to be beat and mucked. Garza (right) the tuned over Q-J offsuit for queen high to take the pot.

At this point I was thoroughly confused. Players calling a river bet with queen high is not something you see very often and I looked around for confirmation of the hand. Another reporter, also with a confused look, had seen the same thing. This was also the last hand of the 4th level and the players were headed out on break. Garza had stopped on his way out and was chatting with Adam Junglen. To confirm what I had seen I asked Garza about the hand and he said “I thought I was getting the odds to call,” in response to my “did I see that hand right, you called with queen high?” We chatted briefly, Jeff saying it had been a tough level and that was the only pot I won.

After a few minutes as I was walking away the hand in question registered with Junglen who said “You called a river bet with queen high?” in an amazed, incredulous tone.

Based on overheard conversation between Per Ummer and a table mate it sounded like he said he had king queen and had he shown his hand would have won the pot with king high. His cards were never shown that I know of so nobody other than Ummer will ever know for certain.  Later Garza noted that Per actually said he was beat and that he did not have KQ.

A short stacked Jason “JCarver” Somerville will come back from the break looking to win a pot with anything he can, be it queen high or 4 of a kind. Somerville hasn’t been able to get anything going, sitting to the right of Daniel Negreanu who has had things going his way pretty much every step of the way so far.

The fifth and final level of the day will be player with 200 / 400 blinds and a 50 chip ante. After the final two hours of play both day 1s will be complete and all players remaining will come back tomorrow for combined day 2 play.

• September 28, 2008 -- Bag Em Up, Day 1B Complete
• September 28, 2008 -- Feature Table, Queen’s Kings Overthrown
• September 28, 2008 -- Lights On
• September 28, 2008 -- Running Good

Sunday night in Leicester Square is a whole different ball game than Friday and Saturday night.  As dinner break was wrapping up just before 10pm, the square was pretty much shutting down tonight.  This is London, so anywhere, anytime of night there are a few people milling around, but last night the area was absolutely packed with partygoers and hucksters trying to sell any trinket or token they think they might be able to pawn off on a drunk.

Tonight after dinner the action outside was quiet, but the situation at the tables inside the Empire Casino was much the same, only with different faces behind the chips.  The after dinner action has been hot, with double ups and bust outs a plenty.  Jamie Rosen has jumped to the chip lead with over 130k while Matt “ch0ppy” Kay (left) and Alex Jacob have went the other direction and been eliminated. 

Adam Junglen had a minor setback when he opened to 800 and Josh Ladines moved in over the top for 5,775 all in.  Junglen seemed pained but made the call saying “you have to have at least 2 overs,” and showing his pocket fives.  Two overs was what he was up against with Ladines having the T9.  The board came 96447 and with the first card out on the board Ladines had made a pair and was able to double through Junglen.  The hit was a small one for Adam, dropping him to around 25k.

Brian “sbrugby” Townsend has been moved to the feature table, but before his table broke he was able to double up when his AK held up against J8 in an all in preflop situation.  Townsend is now just under 30k as he goes to over the the lights and cameras section of the tournament.

• September 28, 2008 -- Bag Em Up, Day 1B Complete
• October 1, 2008 -- Boosted Busted, Townsend Gone Too
• October 1, 2008 -- Slow Level, Matusow Falls Short
• September 30, 2008 -- Juanda, Negreanu, Boosted J Lead The Way into Day 4

As Big Ben prepares to blast out 8 chimes a casino full of poker players are about to head out into a chilly Sunday evening in London in search of enough sustinence to last them through the last 2 levels of play remaining after the dinner break.  The 2 hour break gives the players plenty of time to seek out whatever their hearts and stomachs desire and even allows for dealing with crowds and lines that can be so common in the heart of London.

Mike “Timex” McDonald (right) got a head start on the dinner break, but instead of preparing to come back and play after dinner break he is now planning his travel and upcoming tournament schedule after his elimination. 

After the two hour hiatus everyone will be back.  Be sure to check back in to see how day 1B at the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event finishes up.

• September 28, 2008 -- Early BustOuts
• September 28, 2008 -- Bag Em Up, Day 1B Complete
• September 28, 2008 -- Feature Table, Queen’s Kings Overthrown
• September 28, 2008 -- Win With The Queen High