There is not any telling what number of people famous backer Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy has installed the primary Event through the years. At this point, just one matters: himself.

Tonight in Las Vegas, the arena Series of Poker reached the November Nine, that poker nonet for you to head back here in a couple of months to figure out the sector Champion. On the top of the pack sits one among poker's favorite backers.

Cliff Josephy

Here's how November Nine counts stand at this hour.

1. Cliff Josephy (U.S.) 74,600,0002. Qui Nguyen (AMERICA) 67,925,0003. Gordon Vayo (U.S.A.) 49,375,0004. Kenny Hallaert (Belgium) 43,325,0005. Michael Ruane (U.S.A.) 31,600,0006. Vojtech Ruzicka (Czech Republic) 27,300,0007. Griffin Benger (Canada) 26,175,0008. Jerry Wong (USA) 10,175,0009. Fernando Pons (Spain) 6,150,000

If you have been reading our coverage inside the tournament, you'll certainly recognize another one of the crucial November Niners. Kenny Hallaert runs the PokerStars-sponsored Belgian Poker Challenge when he isn't busy making the November Nine. You'll be able to read more about him here: Kenny Hallaert riding, and boosting, the Belgian boom. With the following BPC also in November, Hallaert goes to have an excessively busy month.

Kenny Hallaert

To reach this point, the sphere needed to thin itself from 27 to nine players. Along the way in which (recorded partially here), we needed to say goodbye to some of players we'd featured here before, including James Obst and William Kassouf. The latter of these played in what's going to likely be probably the most mentioned hands within the 2016 WSOP. You'll read all about that here: Anatomy of an elimination: Kassouf is finally silenced.

William Kassouf

While the WSOP champ continues to be an issue of question, the Player of the Year isn't. Last night when Paul Volpe busted from the primary Event, Jason Mercier secured his first WSOP Player of the Year title. Mercier won two bracelets this year and finished runner-up in another event. In total, he won nearly $1 million in WSOP prizes (let alone whatever he picked up in private bracelet bets).

Jason Mercier

As much because it pains us to mention it, in order to conclude our World Series of Poker coverage for the summer. We are hoping you've enjoyed it up to we've got along the way in which. Way to every who shared our stories on Twitter and Facebook. Remember to look us up on Twitter and tell us who you're rooting for on the final table.

Congratulations again to all of the November Nine and the Player of the Year, Jason Mercier.

Goodnight and goodbye from Las Vegas.

$1 million Spin & Gos running now! Click here to get a PokerStars account. Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging. Follow him on Twitter: @BradWillis. WSOP photos by PokerPhotoArchive.com.

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