2013 International Stadiums Poker Tour Wembley Stadium

In the United Kingdom, fans of football dream of being able to follow their team all the way to a cup final held at Wembley Stadium. The venue is, after all, the home of English football and a magnificent stadium in its own right. Today, the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium hosted it very first poker tournament, Day 2a of the International Stadiums Poker Tour. And what a day it was.

By the time registration closed at the end of the eighth level there were 319 players registered, each of them being lead by Alban Juen. The Frenchman started Day 2a with a tournament leading stack of 187,350 thanks to an impressive Day 1 performance during the online leg of the ISPT.

It was Alban who topped the leader board when play drew to a close at the end of the ninth 60-minute level. Juen bagged up 367,500 chips once time was called on proceedings. According to our sources, Juen has three live tournament cashes to his name, the most impressive of that trio was for $128,384, his reward for finishing 59th in the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Hot on Juen's heels is Leigh Wiltshire, one of the brainchild's behind the Amateur Poker Association and Tour (APAT). Wiltshire's final task of the night was to try and fit chips worth 326,900 into a single plastic bag. He managed it and is now in fine shape going into Sunday's Day 3.

Around 175 players navigated their way through to Day 3 including Bruno Launais (305,300), Jamie Burland (164,800), Ivey Poker Pro Mathew Frankland (150,400), David Benyamine (139,900), Sam Trickett (132,600), reigning European Poker Tour Prague champion Ramzi Jelassi (91,500) and JP Kelly (51,000).

Day 2a also claimed the scalps of some of the game's biggest names. ISPT ambassador Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi busted out very early on, as did Christopher Brammer, while Tony G's appearance was a brief affair. Tony G sat down three levels and last around 35 minutes before he crashed out; it was not a good day at the office from Tony G. Also eliminated during were the likes of former EPT champions Michael Tureniec and Toby Lewis, while former World Series of Poker Main Event winner Peter Eastgate also came and swiftly went.

Saturday is the second and final start day and it should see the inflatable tents, that encapsulate the players on the Wembley pitch, packed to bursting point. Along with a number of the Day 2a casualties re-entering we are expecting to see Roberto Romanello, Marcel Luske, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott and many more famous faces in the crowds.

PokerNews' live coverage begins at 12:00 UK time and will continue until nine 60-minute levels are completed. Make sure to lock your browsers to PokerNews so you do not miss any of the action.

As the title says, here are the end of day chip counts from Day 2a.

Here's a selection of chip counts of the big stacks and notable players. We have been promised an official end-of-day count within a couple of hours. We will, of course, post them on here once we have them in our possession.

After a limper came in for 1,200, Ben Jenkins moved all in for about 26,000 preflop. Sylvain Solfrini then flat-called the all in before Bruno Launais over-called. AFter the limper folded, the two players proceeded to check down a board of .

Jenkins showed knowing he was eliminated but he'll be back tomorrow, Solfrini had him pipped with nines but Launais turned over to scoop the pot with jack-high. Frenchman Launais looks to be among the chip leaders now.

Toby Lewis has just been on the wrong side of an aces versus kings scenario and doesn't have many chips at his disposal.

Lewis held and was all-in on the flop against his opponent's with the board running out and /

Watch out for Lewis punting off his last few chips so he can re-enter on Saturday.

Swedish pro and former European Poker Tour champion Michael Tureneic is no longer in the field, his seat has been filled by a certain Matt Dale. Should Tureniec not buy back in tomorrow I will eat my hat. Actually, I will buy a hat and then eat it.

The big stack at the table raised to 2,500 from the cut-off and it folds to Jamie Burland, in the big blind, who considers his options with a stack of around 85,000. He chooses to 3-bet to 5,700.

Big stack gives him a stare. The pressure is back on with a 4-bet to 17,000.

Burland takes his time, not looking at his opponent, just separating his chips into various sizes, weighing up the consequences. This is the last level of the night.

A minute ticks by and a stack of chips are now in his hand, decision made, a 5-bet to 27,300.

His opponent immediately 6-bets enough to put Burland all in and is answered with a quick call.

They flip the cards over and Burland is ahead with versus

The board runs out an inconsequential

Burland has a nice stack to bring back for day 3.