I hope he wins,because from what I know about this author he always likes to put the MC into a state of despair .the cliché route in this case is that the MC will lose and all those smart-ass(teachers,senpais...) would act like they have already predicted the result and throw an explanation "on how there was a huge skill difference between the MC and his rival and there is no way he could win blablabla" while smirking and with their eyes closed like they know it all...
but the non cliché route is MC will win,or at least an other publisher will be interested in his story after been rejected by the one his rival is working with,they would say" you won the competition but there is no way we gonna publish this....."