Rolex race: 'DavyJones222' holds slim lead in Cash Game WC at halfway mark

The CoinPoker 2025 High Stakes Cash Game World Championship (CGWC) has reached its halfway point and the action on the virtual felt has lived up to the standard set by the competition's inaugural run. 

In 2024, Owen 'Pr0digy' Messere emerged from the pack as the first World Champion – racking up $591,000 in EV and $681,000 in cash across 43,529 hands played to claim the title and the first-place leaderboard prize of a Rolex watch. In 2025, the CGWC expanded its repertoire to offer Mid-Stakes and Pot-Limit Omaha versions of the competition – in which 'WWSF45' and 'Godfromstock' finished as the respective winners.

2025 High Stakes CGWC 

On November 10, the 2025 High Stakes CGWC kicked off across several tables of rake-free NL10K cash games with many of the world's toughest no-limit hold'em players taking to the site to compete for the title and prizes. The series leaderboard measures the $ EV Won by each player as the decisive data point – rewarding players for consistent skill as opposed to pure luck and sun-running. 

'DavyJones922' holds the top spot at the halfway point with $253,632.58 in $ EV and $219,784.39 in cash won over 15,938 hands. With a $35,000 value Rolex and the title in sight, 'DavyJones222' will have to fight hard to protect his lead until the competition's conclusion on December 7. 

While 'DavyJones922' steadily edged out a comfortable lead through the first half of the competition, a huge day from 'TaxHere' has seen their one-handed grip on the title shrivel to a degree. Plus, with experienced grinders like Messere, Kayhan Mokri, 'asianflushie', and Linus Loeliger still in the hunt, the leaderboard race shows no signs of slowing down in the competition's final weeks. 

In the video above, Yoan Merlo breaks down the latest swings on Day 15 of the competition – taking a closer look at a number of consequential pots. 

You can sweat the action throughout the remainder of the 2025 High Stakes CGWC by following CoinPoker on Twitter/X and keeping an eye out for new uploads to the site's YouTube Channel – and if you missed it, or need more convincing, check out this insane hand between Loeliger and CoinPoker Content Squad member Ryan Depaulo.