The esports community at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand has been rocked by a cheating scandal. The incident, involving the host nation, casts a long shadow over what was meant to be a celebration of regional esports competition.
Thai Arena of Valor (AoV) star Naphat “Tokyogurl” Warasin has been formally expelled from the Games following a violation of technical integrity during the winner’s final match against Vietnam on Dec. 15, 2025.
Tokyogurl cheating investigation and ruling
Following suspicious activity noted during game one, a formal investigation was launched by the SEA Games Esports Technical Committee. The findings, released in an official decision letter signed by Technical Delegate Joebert Lopez Yu, were damning.
According to the official document issued by the Thailand National Olympic Committee, Tokyogurl was found to have committed an offense under Item 9.4.3 of the Esports Technical Handbook. The ruling explicitly states that the athlete used “unauthorized third-party software or hardware modification” during the match. The Technical Delegate noted that “conclusive evidence was found” after further investigation, leaving no room for appeal.
While the specific nature of the violation was not detailed in the single-page decision, some reports have suggested the use of remote control software similar to TeamViewer, which would allow another player to control the device during competition. Such software could provide significant unfair advantages in competitive play. The judgment was swift and severe: a “Personal Penalty resulting in her Expulsion from the entirety of the Esports Competition at the 33rd SEA Games.” The official notice concluded with finality: “The decision is final.”
Thailand withdraws Arena of Valor women’s team
The fallout from the ruling was immediate. While the official SEA Games decision applied strictly to Tokyogurl as an individual, the Thailand E-Sports Federation (TESF) took the drastic step of withdrawing the entire Thai women’s AoV team from the remainder of the tournament. In a statement reflecting the severity of the situation, TESF President Santi Lothong emphasized that as the host nation, Thailand bore a higher burden of responsibility to uphold the spirit of fair play. The federation acknowledged that allowing the team to continue, even with a substitute, would compromise the integrity of the medal race.
“Today I want to focus on the match and my duties first. I’ll respond to everyone’s questions later. Everything happened so fast. I’ve read all the comments, both good and bad. I’ll speak out soon. Thank you to everyone for your support. I’ll do my best.” — Substitute player JennieX prior to the team’s withdrawal
Tokyogurl maintains innocence despite lifetime ban and termination from TALON Esports
The consequences for Tokyogurl extend far beyond the SEA Games. Following the announcement from the SEA Games, game publisher Garena imposed a lifetime ban on the player for all Garena-sanctioned competitions, effectively ending her professional career in the title. Her organization, TALON Esports, subsequently terminated her contract on Dec. 16, citing the breach of competitive integrity as grounds for immediate dismissal.
Related—Riot removes TALON from VCT Pacific after repeated financial failures
Despite the official findings and career-ending penalties, Tokyogurl has firmly denied the cheating allegations. In responses to critics on social media, she insisted that she played the match herself and did not use any unauthorized software or hardware modifications. She explained that she panicked during the high-pressure game, became physically unwell, and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
Addressing a gesture during the match that drew significant attention and scrutiny online, Tokyogurl clarified that it was merely a joke directed at a teammate, not evidence of wrongdoing. She has consistently maintained her innocence throughout the controversy. Following the intense public scrutiny and backlash, Tokyogurl has since closed all her social media accounts.
For the 33rd SEA Games, the disqualification serves as a sobering reminder of the vigilance required in modern esports. Despite decades of play, esports is still in its infancy compared to traditional sports, and still faces significant challenges as it continues to establish itself as a legitimate sporting discipline, with integrity standards to match. What began as a quest for gold has ended in a forfeit that will likely be remembered far longer than the match itself, leaving the host nation’s reputation significantly bruised.
