Of cource Ase is still alive. Oda never let anyone die.
Think about the guardian of Alabasta, the bird man that saved Alabasta from the bomb. Not even he died, man... so come on, how can you think Ace's dead?!
And actually noone dies in One Piece. Even the bad guys live on and a taken from the government (Eneru left the planet though)
Ace lost that match, I believe. Not that I doubt his monstrous powers and his will, but if Blackbeard was to die, that just would have been nonsense. Why should he die?
If he died, then why did Oda even bother to create him. He hasn't done anything yet, but something's gonna happen, that's for sure.
They say Whitebeard is the nearest to become the Pirate King. But maybe Luffy and Blackbeard are the ones from the new age, who're going to fight for that title in the end.
And Luffy now has a reason to fight him too... It's going to be interesting.
Ps. Sorry Chidoki ... didn't see your post...