There isn't 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 sector Series of Poker reached the November Nine, that poker nonet in order to head back here in a couple of months to figure out the arena Champion. On the top of the pack sits certainly one of 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 (U.S.A.) 67,925,0003. Gordon Vayo (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) 49,375,0004. Kenny Hallaert (Belgium) 43,325,0005. Michael Ruane (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) 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 within the tournament, you are going to certainly recognize another one of the vital November Niners. Kenny Hallaert runs the PokerStars-sponsored Belgian Poker Challenge when he is not 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 overly busy month.

Kenny Hallaert

To reach this point, the sector needed to thin itself from 27 to nine players. Along the best way (recorded partially here), we needed to say goodbye to a few 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, with the intention to conclude our World Series of Poker coverage for the summer. We are hoping you've enjoyed it up to we have now along the way in which. Way to every who shared our stories on Twitter and Facebook. You'll want to look us up on Twitter and tell us who you're rooting for on the final table.

Congratulations again to the entire 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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