The 33rd SEA Games were marred with scandal when host nation Thailand’s Arena of Valor player Naphat “Tokyogurl” Warasin was disqualified for using “unauthorized third-party software or hardware modification” during a match against Vietnam. While Tokyogurl herself repeatedly denied any infraction, her boyfriend Cheerio has now confessed to remotely playing in her place during the December 15 upper bracket final.
How did Tokyogurl cheat at the 33rd SEA Games
Following suspicious activity noted during game one of the Vietnam match, a formal investigation was launched by the SEA Games Esports Technical Committee. The findings were damning. According to the official report, Tokyogurl was found to have violated Item 9.4.3 of the Esports Technical Handbook through the use of unauthorized third-party software.
Thailand Esports Federation further found evidence showing that Tokyogurl’s account had logged in from a network IP address that differed from the official competition network. This conclusively proved that someone else was controlling her device remotely during the match. The fraud was first reported by Thai players themselves, who noticed irregularities in gameplay.
Despite Thailand leading Laos 1-0 in the lower bracket final on December 16 and still having a path to the gold medal match with a stand-in player, the Thailand Esports Federation made the shocking decision to withdraw the entire women’s team from the tournament, costing innocent teammates their opportunity to compete.
Cheerio admits to remote play on Tokyogurl’s device
Nearly three weeks after the disqualification, Tokyogurl’s boyfriend Cheerio—also known as Kong—broke his silence on January 2 with a TikTok confession. The semi-professional player, a former member of Bangkok ESC, admitted he was the third party who remotely controlled his girlfriend’s device during the match.
“I would like to clarify the problems that occurred during the 33rd SEA Games and other tournaments, where people suspected that there were substitutions in many matches. I would like to admit that it is true, just like what the press has reported”—Cheerio on TikTok
He explained that the public backlash left him uncertain about how to respond for weeks. “I decided to speak out late because the wave of public opinion broke out too strong and too fast, making me unable to prepare and did not know how to respond to society,” he said.
“I apologize to those affected by my selfish action, and to all Thai people for bringing shame to the country. This is an important lesson in my life. I will use it to look at myself, improve and modify. I promise not to let others suffer harm, or let the country lose its reputation because of my actions again.”—Cheerio
The message also included specific apologies to Thai Esports Federation President Santi Lothong, the women’s team, and other teams that lost opportunities because of his actions. The player also promised a livestreamed apology to further explain the situation and answer community questions.
Ironically, despite Cheerio’s reputation within the Thai esports scene, Thailand still lost 0-3 to Vietnam in the match where he played remotely—the very match that triggered the investigation.
“I’m sorry”—Tokyogurl admits to cheating amidst threat of legal action
For weeks after her disqualificaiton, Tokyogurl maintained her innocence despite mounting evidence against her. While her teammates discussed her pre-meditated actions in local media, she claimed that she panicked during the high-pressure game, became physically unwell, and required hospitalization. She denied all allegations before closing her social media accounts amid intense online abuse.
That narrative completely collapsed following Cheerio’s confession. Only after her boyfriend admitted the truth did Tokyogurl finally acknowledge her role in the scandal. She posted a simple apology on Facebook: “I’m sorry.” It marked her first public statement taking responsibility since the controversy began.
While the consequences so far have already been career-ending, with publisher Garena issuing a lifetime ban, apparently further repercussions may be even more severe. President Santi Lothong, who also serves as President of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, is reportedly pursuing legal action against both Cheerio and Tokyogurl, vowing to take the case to the fullest extent possible under Thai law.
The scandal represents one of the most damaging incidents in Thai esports history, particularly given Thailand’s role as host nation for the 33rd SEA Games. What was meant to showcase the country’s esports prowess instead exposed serious integrity issues that continue to reverberate throughout the regional competitive gaming community.
