Be equal to the contest (5)
I believe the answer is:
match
This clue is a triple definition!
'be' is the first definition.
(matching is a kind of being)
'equal' is the second definition.
('match' can be a synonym of 'equal')
'to the contest' is the third definition.
(match is a kind of contest)
(Other definitions for match that I've seen before include "Game - pairing - lucifer" , "Go together" , "Alliance" , "Light" , "Game; lighter" .)