Tournament TS5000BE

The newest addition to the Tournament models, the Tournament TS5000BE. In the 2010s, matt-black minimalistic setups became all the rage. Daiwa jumped on this by re‑releasing some of their true cult classics in a black edition, with the very successful TS5000T being one of them. Apart from the different look, the TS5000BE has lower specs than its predecessor. As for the black colour, you’ll probably either love it or hate it. Yet it quickly became a favourite among many anglers.

History

In 1995, Daiwa released the Tournament-S 5000T, a big pit reel with a 35 mm stroke and excellent casting performance. It was the successor to the SS-3000, featuring a Twistbuster line roller and two additional ball bearings in the handle knob.

In the 2010s, there was a growing trend for minimalistic setups on the bank, with everything matt black, from rods and reels to banksticks. Daiwa jumped on this by re-releasing some of their cult classics in a black edition, with the TS5000T among them. In 2015, exactly 20 years later, it was re-issued as the TS5000BE. Essentially, it was the same reel but in a different colour, although it had lower specifications, as it lacked the two ball bearings in the handle knob that the original TS5000T featured. It was an export model, released exclusively in Europe for carp anglers, where Tournament models remained highly popular.

Several catalogues and retailers listed this model as the TS5000TB (Tournament Black), but on the reel itself and the box it is clearly marked as TS5000BE (Black Edition). These catalogues are known to occasionally contain the odd mistake. In this case, both the gear ratio and the number of bearings are wrong as well.

The TS5000BE was discontinued in 2025, although in the UK it remained available for some time afterwards through major retailers.

Releases

The TS5000BE was a single-model release, released only for export. Daiwa traditionally offered the shallower spool Tournament models, the SS-3000 and TS5000T, for both the Japanese domestic market and for export. The deeper spool versions, the SS-5000 and TS5500T, were only released in Japan. They followed the same approach with the TS5000BE, releasing just that model and never bringing out a TS5500BE. It was definitely released in the UK and may also have been sold in France, as Daiwa France also released the Black Emblem X5000T and even an SS2600 Black Edition. Any information on other markets would be greatly appreciated. The box included a line reducer, a cloth bag and a maintenance kit.

Model comparison

Compared to other 3000–5000-35 models, the TS5000BE stands out visually with its matt black body and rotor, combined with a gloss black spool. The black bail kicker features a roller, just like the SS-3000, SS-5000, TS5000T and TS5500T. The folding handle features a premium wooden knob. The spool and side cover decals display the new VECTOR DAIWA logo, introduced in 2009.

Technically, the TS5000BE sits at the upper end of the 3000–5000-35 series. Unlike the TS5000T, it lacks the two ball bearings in the handle knob. In terms of internal materials, it shares the same less durable components as the other newer export models, most notably the plain drive gear and Thai ball bearings. In many ways, it is very similar to the 2008 re-release of the SS-3000, with the same number of bearings and many identical internal part numbers. While it uses some lower-cost internal components, this reel is still very durable compared to many other modern ones.

Regarding line capacity, the TS5000BE matches the GS-3000 (aluminium spool), SS-3000 and TS5000T.

Collectabillity

There is something for everyone, and the same goes for the Tournament models. If you enjoy an understated all-black look, these reels are for you. While they may be less sought-after by collectors, they remain popular among anglers. The reels generally hold their value reasonably well, although less than, for example, the SS-3000 models. The black spools are popular for use on other Tournament models, such as the GS-35. They are easy to get hold of, as they are still available to buy. The same goes for the black one-piece bails, rotors and other parts.

Specifications

All models in this group are very similar in terms of technical design. Click the button ‘3000-5000-35 series’ for general technical information, or further info on certain subjects below.

General specifications

Model: Tournament TS5000BE
Country of manufacture: Japan
Production period: 2015 till 2025
Catalogue weight: 575 g

Body & rotor

Body material: Whisker Carbon
Rotor material: Super Metal
Balanced rotor: No

Internal mechanics

Drive type: Hex drive
Gear material: Super duralumin
Gear ratio: 4.1 : 1
Osc. type: Worm gear oscillation
Main shaft: Titanium alloy, Ø6 mm
Anti-reverse: Ratchet, inside body
Ball bearings: 5 (Thai / Cambodian)
– Pinion gear: 1 BB (10x20x5 mm)
– Drive gear: 2 BB (10x20x5 mm)
– Worm shaft: 2 BB (4x7x2 mm)

Spool & bail system

Spool design: Skirtless spool
Stroke: 35 mm
Spool type: Long cast
Spool material: Aluminium
Spool lip: Aluminium
Line capacity (mm/m):
– 0.33-350, 0.40-250
Retrieve speed: ±85 cm/turn
Bail type: One-piece
Line roller: Twistbuster TiN

Drag system

Drag type: Front drag
Drag washers: 5 felt + 5 metal
Clicker sound: Yes

Handle assembly

Handle type: Foldable
Handle shaft: Silver-coloured hex
Handle length: 85 mm
Handle knob: Wooden
Ambidextrous: Yes

Schematic

See below for the schematic of the TS5000BE. The exploded view and parts list have been added separately, but all part numbers are copied exactly from the original schematic.

Other 3000-5000-35 models: