We’re down to the final nine in the $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship at the 2011 World Series of Poker (WSOP). On Thursday, the Main Event begins with Day 1A, but fans of the game will be in for a treat today, as nine players will jockey for the Poker Player’s Championship’s $1.7 million first place prize. Three members of the online poker community remain, along with 11-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth (pictured). You can sweat the finale in a Live Poker thread.

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Robert Mizrachi was the Poker Player’s Championship’s Bubble Boy, busting in 17th place and walking away empty-handed. Mizrachi went out during Stud play after Hellmuth made a pair of nines against Mizrachi’s pair of deuces. The field was promptly redrawn into two eight-handed tables following his departure.

Barry barryg1Greenstein (pictured) was eliminated in 15th place, stumbling during No Limit Hold’em play. The PokerStarspro got his money in with A-8 of hearts before the flop, but ran into Jason Lester‘s A-Q. The flop of 9-10-J gave Greenstein a straight draw, but running fives ended his title hopes and he picked up $108,000.

The story of the tournament isn’t just the $1.7 million top prize on the line; also at stake is the title of 2011 WSOP Player of the Year. Ben Benba Lamb, who owns the seventh largest stack out of the nine remaining players, leads the Player of the Year race with three cashes, two final tables, and a bracelet for $1.1 million total. Hellmuth, searching for a record-setting 12th bracelet, has a pair of runner-up finishes worth over $500,000 combined and is in fourth on the Player of the Year leaderboard.

Speaking of Lamb, he doubled up during Stud play after getting his money in on sixth street with two pair, tens and nines. Minh Ly held a pair of jacks and a club flush draw, but couldn’t connect on the final card. Happy to provide insight on the hand was railbird Mike Matusow, who shouted, “If anyone has been paying any attention to the World Series this year, there was no doubt in anyone’s [expletive] mind that Ben Lamb was winning that pot! No [expletive] doubt he was going to win that one.”

Team PokerStars Online pro George Jorj95 Lind (pictured) hit lightning in a bottle late in the day to advance to the final nine. With one card to come, Lind was up against Vladimir Shchelemev‘s aces-up with no low during Stud Eight or Better. Lind held a pair of kings and spiked a third on seventh street for the win. Earlier in the day, Lind hit a three-outer during Limit Hold’em to stave off elimination.

Hellmuth narrowly missed out on a record 12th WSOP bracelet twice during the 2011 WSOP. All “The Poker Brat” could do on Twitter was call for #12 to come: “12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12.” He added, “9 left, we calling it a night, I have 2,245,000 in chips. 8 is ‘official’ final table, C U on ESPN3 tomorrow at 3:00 pm PST!” Vote on our Facebook page on whether Hellmuth will win bracelet #12 today.

Here are the chip counts of those remaining in the WSOP’s $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship:

1. Minh Ly – 5,215,000
2. Brian tsarrast Rast – 2,660,000
3. Matt Glantz – 2,535,000
4. George Jorj95 Lind – 2,315,000
5. Phil Hellmuth – 2,245,000
6. Owais oerockets Ahmed – 1,425,000
7. Ben Benba Lamb – 1,180,000
8. Jason Lester – 920,000
9. Scott Seiver – 725,000

In the thread in the Live Poker forum, members of PocketFives.com were rooting on their favorites. One poster observed, “Actually want Hellmuth to win after his two close finishes, plus he’s been very respectful this World Series. Third final table in a week for Ahmed (pictured) is pretty sick! Talk about running hot! Just got to also mention Lind was down to 17K at one stage and has hit two miracle three-outers to still be in it. Maybe he is destined to win this event?”

Another poster in the thread was rooting on Lamb: “I would like to see Ben Lamb ship it. He has absolutely been crushing/running like god this WSOP.”

Stay tuned to PocketFives.com for continuing WSOP coverageof online poker players. Don’t forget to check out 24hPoker, whose sponsorship has allowed us to publish daily recaps of your favorite pros’ progress. Sign up for 24hPoker.