It's Monday, July 1st, and the World Series of Poker is in the home stretch, with the Main Event kicking off on Saturday.

The two big stories of the day infrared marked cards were the final table of the Event #53 ($1,500 No-Limit Hold'em) and Day 2 of the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.

As a change of pace, we're presenting some of the highlights from WSOP Day 34 in a photo blog format. Enjoy.

With two tables remaining in Event #53 ($1,500 No-Limit Hold'em), there were still two women in the field -- Loni Harwood (left) and Kitty Kuo.

While no women have won bracelets yet this year, there have been six who have appeared at final tables so far -- including Harwood.

Unfortunately for Kuo, she was eliminated in 17th place (earning $23,760) shortly after this photo was taken.

The ESPN Main Stage is ready and waiting for the final 10 poker lenses players in Event #53 ($1,500 No-Limit Hold'em), the only final table scheduled to take place today.

Doyle Brunson has effectively retired from tournaments, but he still registered to take his seat in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. On Day 2, he found himself seated next to his longtime friend from the cash games, Jennifer Harman.

Why would Doyle choose to play this event above all others? The high-stakes and the mixed-game format appeal to him, and he may also be thinking about the trophy, which was named in honor of his late, great friend, Chip Reese.

Our reporting team has been following Doyle's progress all day, and you can check out that coverage by going to our $50k Players Championship updates. Phil Hellmuth skipped the $111,111 One Drop High Roller event, and said he regretted it. But there was no chance he was missing the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, a tournament he called one of the two greatest in all of poker (along with the WSOP Main Event).Loni Harwood (right) is the first woman to make two final tables at this year's WSOP. (Amanda Musumeci was the only woman who did it last year.)

Unfortunately, Harwood was eventually eliminated in fourth place, earning $210,456. It was the first six-figure score by a woman so far this WSOP.