A major controversy rocks SEA Games esports

The 33rd Southeast Asian Games has been hit by a major esports controversy after Thailand’s women’s Arena of Valor team was disqualified from the tournament, following cheating allegations against one of its players.

Thai player Naphat “Tokyogurl” Warasin was expelled from the women’s AoV competition, held as part of the SEA Games currently taking place in Thailand since December 9. The decision was confirmed by the event’s organising committee, citing a breach of competition rules involving unauthorised software or equipment. As a direct result, the entire Thai national team was withdrawn from the tournament.

Rule breach confirmed by organisers

According to the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, Tokyogurl violated Article 9.4.3 of the esports regulations during the Winner Bracket Final against Vietnam on Monday, December 15. Following an investigation, officials stated there was sufficient evidence to justify her immediate disqualification from the SEA Games.

While organisers did not publicly confirm the exact method, multiple media outlets reported the issue involved the alleged use of screen sharing or external assistance software during gameplay. The ruling led not only to her removal from the event, but also to wider consequences for the Thai squad.

Disrespectful behaviour caught on broadcast

The situation escalated further during Thailand’s 0–3 loss to Vietnam, when Tokyogurl was caught on camera making an obscene gesture toward the livestream broadcast. This behaviour was later cited as an additional breach of conduct, further strengthening the case for disciplinary action.

Image Credit: TV screen capture

The Thailand Esports Federation later issued a statement accepting the ruling and acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, pledging to improve internal oversight and preventative measures moving forward.

TALON terminates contract immediately

TALON, the esports organisation Tokyogurl had represented for several months, confirmed the termination of her contract following the ruling.

“TALON agrees with the findings and ruling of the Technical Delegate in the Women’s Team AOV esports competition at the 33rd SEA Games on December 15, 2025,” the organisation said in a press release. “Esports athlete Ms. Naphat Warasin violated a key rule during the competition and was disqualified from the 33rd SEA Games. The organisation has terminated the player’s esports athlete status under its sponsorship, effective December 16, 2025.”

Event organiser Garena RoV Thailand also backed the decision and announced that Tokyogurl would be banned from all future competitions it hosts.

Entire Thai team withdraws in show of accountability

The repercussions did not stop with the player alone. Thailand Esports Federation president Santi Lohthong confirmed that the entire Thai women’s AoV team would withdraw from the Games, describing the move as a show of responsibility and accountability.

He issued an apology on behalf of the team, stressing the importance of fair play and the integrity of esports, while confirming that further investigations would be conducted to strengthen both technical controls and ethical standards in future competitions.

Vietnam claims gold after dramatic fallout

Thailand’s disqualification reshaped the final stages of the tournament. Laos advanced automatically to the gold medal match but were ultimately overwhelmed by Vietnam, who secured the championship with a dominant 4–0 victory in the Grand Final. Timor-Leste claimed the bronze medal, rounding out the podium.

Image Credit: Olympic Channel

Tensions beyond esports add to the drama

The controversy unfolded during an already tense SEA Games atmosphere, amid escalating disputes between Cambodia and Thailand. The situation became so serious that Cambodia’s National Olympic Committee withdrew its entire delegation at the last minute, citing safety concerns raised by athletes’ families.

While unrelated to the AoV incident directly, the withdrawal added further strain to an already turbulent Games, making this year’s SEA Games one of the most dramatic in recent memory.

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