contestant - a person who participates in competitions

champ, champion, title-holder - someone who has won first place in a competition

comer - someone with a promising future

finalist - a contestant who reaches the final stages of a competition

foe, enemy - a personal enemy; "they had been political foes for years"

favourite, front-runner, favorite - a competitor thought likely to win

world-beater, king, queen - a competitor who holds a preeminent position

runner-up, second best - the competitor who finishes second

semifinalist - one of four competitors remaining in a tournament by elimination

street fighter - a contestant who is very aggressive and willing to use underhand methods

tier - any one of two or more competitors who tie one another

tilter - someone who engages in a tilt or joust

equalise, equalize, equate, equal, match - make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching; "let's equalize the duties among all employees in this office"; "The company matched the discount policy of its competitors"

compete, vie, contend - compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

compete, vie, contend - compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

outrival, outvie - be more of a rival than