Thailand’s esports scene has been rocked by a major integrity scandal after the Crime Suppression Division arrested former national representative Naphat “Tokyogurl” Warasin and semi-professional player Cheerio in connection with alleged cheating at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok.
The arrests follow months of investigation into suspicious activity during the esports tournament, which was held as part of the regional multi-sport event in December 2025.
Allegations of Unlawful Access and Collusion
According to Thai authorities, the two players have been charged with colluding to obtain and disclose restricted computer access credentials and unlawfully accessing computer data protected by security systems.
Pol Maj Gen Phatthanasak Bupphasuwan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, confirmed the charges on Friday, stating that the case centers on alleged misconduct during a women’s esports match between Thailand and Vietnam on December 16, 2025.
Tournament officials reportedly flagged unusual gameplay patterns during the match, followed by what observers described as an abrupt performance collapse. The irregularities prompted a formal review by event organisers and technical staff.
Investigators later concluded that a remote play scheme may have been used, raising serious concerns about competitive integrity at one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent sporting events.
Login Records and Public Admission
Authorities allege that Tokyogurl shared her game account login details with Cheerio before the match began. Login attempts were reportedly recorded prior to the start of competition, and chat logs indicated communication between the two during gameplay.
Such actions would violate tournament regulations and standard competitive protocols designed to prevent account sharing or outside assistance.
Cheerio later posted a public apology on Facebook, admitting to cheating. The statement became a key piece of evidence in the expanding investigation.
As a result of the incident, match officials removed Tokyogurl from the tournament mid-event. Thailand’s women’s team was subsequently disqualified from the Arena of Valor competition.
Arena of Valor has been a staple title in regional esports tournaments, including the SEA Games, where national teams compete for medals under strict integrity guidelines.
Federation Response and Lifetime Bans
Santi Lohtong, president of the Thailand Esports Federation, said the scandal caused significant reputational harm to the federation, the national squad and the country’s esports image.
He confirmed that both players have received lifetime bans from official competition under the federation’s jurisdiction.
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