It depends on what you as an individual likes, and more so what you're comfortable working with. I have won several cutting competitions over the years..... my personal preference for a competition "chopper" is 52100 or SUJ-2 (a double vacuum melt version of 52100).
I won one event using a blade of 5160 just to prove a point about the steel... there were several other Makers who scoffed at the idea of using 5160....they said it would never "make it through a cutting competition".... but if the blade is built/heat treated for the purpose(s), it makes a great chopper.
That being said, keep in mind that I forge the majority of my blades, and have spent years working on the heat treatment and geometry. (that's why I mentioned "what you're comfortable working with").