No disrespect to Stoyan Madanzhiev and whoever wins the upcoming 2020 WSOP Main Event Part II, but Hossein Ensan should retain the title of poker’s world champion until we have a traditional World Series of Poker again.

Despite what Ty Stewart wants, Hossein Ensan is still the champ. (Image: WSOP.com)

Ensan won the Main Event in Las Vegas last summer for $10 million. He did so the same way each world champion has done so since the late 1970s — by winning a live $10,000 buy-in freezeout. Madanzhiev, on the other hand, won a $5,000 buy-in online poker tournament that permitted multiple rebuys.

The global health pandemic has forced the WSOP and sports leagues to adapt this year. Major League Baseball, for example, played a 60-game schedule, 102 games short of its normal season, with no fans in the stands. WSOP operators moved the live series in Las Vegas to the internet for an 85-event series on GGPoker and WSOP.com.