Naraphat known by her in-game nickname “Tokyogurl”, was found to have violated the Esports Technical Manual, which strictly bans the use of third-party software or any modification of competition equipment. The breach occurred during Thailand’s match against Vietnam on Tuesday, following growing online suspicion after Thailand suffered a 0–3 defeat a day earlier.
Concerns initially surfaced on social media, with speculation that Tokyogurl, who played as the team’s marksman, had installed illegal software on the competition device. Once the issue was reported, the SEA Games technical department launched an immediate investigation and confirmed that cheating had taken place.
Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) president Santi Lothong addressed the incident head-on during a YouTube livestream on Wednesday, calling it a serious embarrassment. “Cheating and still losing, it is truly shameful,” he said..
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Thai national women’s Arena of Valor team at the SEA Games 33. Photo from Facebook |
According to Khaosod, team captain Jomkhon “Givemeakiss” Phumsinin said Tokyogurl asked to borrow a teammate’s competition device, claiming her own phone lacked an internet connection. Tournament rules require prior approval and a coach’s signature for sharing competition equipment.
“She seemed nervous, and then when allowed onto the stage, she rushed forward first. This was the second unusual thing that made me suspicious,” Givemeakiss said.
During the match, Tokyogurl reportedly avoided eye contact and repeatedly tapped her phone screen, raising concerns from a teammate seated nearby. The match was later paused for investigation, during which referees warned the team about unauthorized use of Discord on a competition device. This configuration allows someone outside the venue to view the game screen and potentially provide remote assistance.
After the match, Givemeakiss reported the incident to the coaching staff, stressing that no other team members were involved. She also revealed that suspicions had emerged two days earlier, but the team lacked evidence to act.
“She was an older teammate, and we still considered each other friends, so we just had to put up with it,” Givemeakiss said.
Lifetime ban
Following confirmation of the breach, TESF disqualified Tokyogurl and took the unprecedented step of withdrawing the entire women’s RoV team from the tournament, even as the team was leading Laos 1–0 in the losers’ bracket final.
Lothong said the decision was necessary to protect the host nation’s integrity. “We respect the rules, sportsmanship and the spirit of sport,” he said, as quoted by Khaosod. “As the host country, we cannot allow the competition to continue under these circumstances.”
He confirmed that the international refereeing team cleared Tokyogurl’s teammates of any wrongdoing. However, he said the remaining players unanimously agreed to withdraw to uphold national honor and demonstrate collective responsibility.
On Wednesday, governing bodies announced further disciplinary measures. Game publisher Garena imposed an immediate ban on Tokyogurl from all RoV tournaments, while her professional team, TALON, confirmed the termination of her contract. The RoV Esports organizing committee applied the highest level of discipline by issuing a lifetime ban.
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) said it would support TESF in considering legal action if violations beyond the scope of sports regulations are established. SAT director general Kongsak Yodmanee emphasized that cheating is unacceptable in any discipline and praised Thai officials for reporting the incident despite the involvement of home athletes.
“Thailand has always affirmed the principles of fairness and transparency when hosting the SEA Games,” Kongsak said. “This incident shows that we do not cover up, are not biased and are ready to handle it strictly to ensure the common standards of the SEA Games, creating trust in the Southeast Asian sports community.”
Tokyogurl responds
Tokyogurl said: “If I cheated, I would have won the match against Vietnam,” she wrote, arguing that using cheating software would have guaranteed a victory in the match that Thailand lost 0-3. She insisted that she competed by herself and denied using a cable connection to her phone to facilitate cheating.
Naraphat explained that she suffered a panic attack during the competition.
“Nobody understood what was happening. I panicked, fainted and was taken straight to the hospital. Only when I regained consciousness could I use my phone,” she added.
Addressing the controversy over the middle finger incident during the live broadcast, she clarified that the gesture was intended as a joke with a teammate during a tense moment, not directed at the cameras or the audience.
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Warasin “Tokyogurl” Naraphat represents the Thailand Arena of Valor women’s team at the 33rd SEA Games. Photo from Facebook |
The impact on women’s esports professionalism
The scandal also sparked strong reactions across Thailand’s esports community, particularly among veteran players in the women’s RoV scene. Frozenkiss (FZK), regarded as a pioneer of Thai women’s RoV, said Tokyogurl’s actions undermined years of effort by female players striving to build credibility for women’s esports, according to Znews.
“I honestly do not know what words to use. Cheating while wearing the national team jersey is unacceptable, even in small tournaments,” FZK wrote on social media.
She said SEA Games 33 had been expected to serve as a breakthrough moment for women’s competitions, with greater visibility and opportunity, but that promise collapsed because of one individual’s actions.
“I feel deeply ashamed. How will people look at Thai women players from now on?” she wrote.
According to FZK, labeling a national-team athlete as a cheater risks casting doubt on the professionalism of the entire women’s esports system, despite the many players who compete fairly. She added that long-standing issues such as account smurfing and match-fixing had already damaged perceptions, with the Tokyogurl case reinforcing those concerns.
“From a once-promising female player, Tokyogurl faces the heaviest penalty of her career,” Thai outlet Daily News wrote. “This incident serves as a wake-up call regarding professional ethics, transparency and fair play on the international stage.”