The controversy surrounding Thailand’s Arena of Valor (AOV) player, Napapat “Tokyogurl” Warasin, culminated in her disqualification from the 33rd SEA Games tournament. Following allegations of cheating, which involved using a third-party application and allowing another individual to play through remote access, Tokyogurl’s position within the Thailand national team was rendered untenable.
The disqualification occurred during a pivotal moment in the tournament. Tokyogurl had already sparked controversy by flashing a middle finger on camera during the Upper Bracket Final match against Vietnam, a match that Thailand ultimately lost 0-3. Subsequently, the team found themselves facing Laos in the lower bracket, only to be disqualified due to the cheating allegations regarding Tokyogurl, who was found to have committed a violation as per Item 9.4.3 of the Esports Technical Handbook.
The Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) released an official statement addressing the troubling situation, indicating that the team forfeited their match against Laos, leading to an automatic victory for the opposing team. Following this incident, Laos went on to lose to Vietnam with a score of 0-4. While the exact method Tokyogurl used to cheat has not been disclosed, speculation within the community suggests that she may have utilized a screen-sharing application to facilitate the remote play.
In light of the investigation, Tokyogurl’s esports organization, Talon TH, confirmed her removal from their roster. The organization’s statement expressed adherence to the ruling made by the tournament’s technical delegate, acknowledging Tokyogurl’s violation of regulations during the competition. The statement, translated from Thai, indicated that her status as an esports athlete with Talon TH was terminated effective December 16, 2025.
Talon TH’s announcement included a note of gratitude towards their supporters while confirming the consequences of the incident. The fallout from this situation has prompted reactions from various corners of the esports community. Notably, popular YouTuber Legal Mindset criticized Tokyogurl’s actions, emphasizing the negative impact her decision had on her teammates and the broader Thailand national team. He remarked, “This is really shameful and disrespectful to her Thai teammates; she literally got the entire Thai national team disqualified.”
In the wake of the controversy, Tokyogurl has deleted her social media accounts and has not made any public statements about the situation. This incident not only disrupted the Thailand AOV team’s performance at the SEA Games but also serves as a reminder of the strict regulations governing competitive esports and the severe repercussions that can arise from violations.
As the esports community reflects on this event, it raises questions about integrity in competitive gaming and the measures organizations and federations may need to implement to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining fair play within esports, a principle that is crucial for the legitimacy and growth of the industry.
