Thai Esports Player Arrested After SEA Games Cheating Incident

An Arena of Valor competitor in Thailand has reportedly been arrested alongside an alleged accomplice following a cheating scandal at an official tournament. The case, which occurred during the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, has escalated beyond competitive sanctions and now involves criminal charges.

Alleged Remote Play Scheme at SEA Games 2025

The incident took place on December 15, 2025, during the SEA Games competition in Thailand. According to authorities, 29-year-old Naphat Warasin, known in the esports scene as Tokyogurl, allegedly allowed another player to compete in her place by sharing access credentials and using unauthorized remote technology.

Investigators claim that 23-year-old semi-professional player Chaiyo “Cheerio”, controlled Tokyogurl’s character remotely through screen-sharing tools while she was officially representing Thailand’s women’s national team. Following the discovery of the alleged misconduct, the team was disqualified from the tournament.

Criminal Charges Filed

On February 13, new reports confirmed that both individuals had been formally charged with colluding to obtain and disclose restricted computer access credentials and unlawfully accessing protected computer data, according to The Bangkok Post. The charges carry a potential penalty of up to two years in prison and fines of approximately $1,200 USD.

In addition to the legal proceedings, both Tokyogurl and Cheerio have received lifetime bans from competitive play. A ruling from the Pathumwan Kwaeng Court is expected on March 17.

Evidence and Investigation Details

Authorities allege that Tokyogurl provided her tournament-issued login credentials to Cheerio, who then used non-approved technology to control her in-game actions from a separate location. During the investigation, Cheerio reportedly admitted via TikTok that he had been the one playing during the match. Tokyogurl later posted a brief apology on Facebook.

Tournament officials initially became suspicious when Tokyogurl’s physical hand movements did not align with the character’s on-screen actions. Teammates also reportedly noted unusual behavior prior to the competition, including reluctance to attend in-person training sessions and attempts to conceal her hands during gameplay.

Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division (CSD) conducted searches across three locations, seizing mobile phones and collecting internet data. Investigators also cited suspicious login activity and chat records between the two suspects that allegedly violated tournament rules. While not officially confirmed, earlier reports suggested that the remote play may have been conducted through Discord.

Impact on Thailand’s Esports Reputation

At present, there are no indications of additional cheating or cybercrime cases linked to the SEA Games 2025 tournament. However, Thailand Esports Federation president Santi Lohtong stated that the alleged incident has significantly damaged both the federation’s reputation and Thailand’s standing in the international esports community.