Thai Esports Player Tokyogurl Arrested for Cheating at SEA Games
Thai Esports Player Tokyogurl Arrested for Cheating at SEA Games
Naphat “Tokyogurl” Warasin and an accomplice face criminal charges after authorities say another player competed remotely on her behalf during an international tournament.
Thai authorities arrested former national team player Naphat "Tokyogurl" Warasin on Feb. 13, alleging she used a proxy player during the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, a case that has drawn criminal charges and lifetime bans from competitive play.
Warasin was taken into custody alongside accomplice Chaiyo "Cheerio," 23, following an investigation by Thailand's Crime Suppression Division. Both players have pleaded guilty to charges under Thailand's Computer Crime Act, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a fine of 40,000 baht ($1,287).
The arrests are a rare criminal prosecution in competitive gaming, where cheating typically results in bans rather than legal action. Police Major General Pattanasak Bubphasuwan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said "this case is not a simple game fraud; it is a technological crime that harms the dignity and honor of the nation."
How the SEA Games 2025 Cheating Scheme Worked
Suspicions arose during Thailand's Dec. 15 Arena of Valor match against Vietnam at Chulalongkorn University's Phra Kaew Hall. Investigators determined that Cheerio, a former semi-professional Arena of Valor player, had remotely controlled Warasin's account while she attended the event in person.
According to investigation reports and suspect confessions, Warasin used a personal phone identical to the official competition model to connect to Discord and share her screen with Cheerio, who controlled her account in real time from another location. Warasin hid the official competition phone under her legs while pretending to play on her own device.
During a filmed interrogation, Cheerio detailed the scheme: "If the camera films elsewhere, we switch. We put the other one [the official phone] on top like this, then take it away, and for the referee's main device, we slide it down and wedge it under the thigh."
The scheme failed during the decisive round following a password change by referees and connection issues in the game lobby, forcing Warasin to regain control without the required skill level.
Prosecutors say the pair violated the Computer Crime Act of 2007, specifically articles 5, 6, and 7 regarding illegal access to a protected system and the disclosure of security measures. Thailand was disqualified from the tournament.
Searches Reveal Recurring Fraud by Tokyogurl and Cheerio
Authorities conducted searches on Feb. 4, 2026, in the provinces of Nakhon Phanom and Nonthaburi, discovering evidence on mobile phones. Cheerio admitted to acting as a "stand-in" for Warasin on a recurring basis, including during national selection phases in May 2025.
Cheerio said he was financially dependent on Warasin. "I live alone and I need money. She looked after me, helped me with my move, helped me buy things. If I had nothing for food or rent, she helped me," he said. He admitted he had previously played in her place to boost her ranking and created content for her TikTok account before she joined the national team.
Warasin had promised Cheerio a latest-generation iPhone in exchange for a victory at the SEA Games. Cheerio told investigators: "I would like to apologize to the Association, the organizers, and society. Please forgive me, I will not do it again."
Warasin initially denied the cheating claims. Both players have since pleaded guilty to the charges.
Post Today
The Thai Esports Federation and publisher Garena announced a lifetime ban for Warasin from all official competitions. Her professional club, TALON, also terminated her contract on Dec. 16, 2025, citing a serious violation of regulations.
The team withdrew from the competition to preserve national honor, allowing Vietnam to win the gold medal. The case has been referred to the Pathum Wan District Prosecutor's Office. The Pathum Wan District Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on March 17, 2026.
The case has drawn attention to persistent cheating problems in competitive gaming. Earlier in February, Krafton India disqualified 15 teams and issued lifetime bans to three BGMI teams after they were found guilty of offences related to cheating during BGIS 2026.
Author
Vignesh Raghuram is the Editor of Outlook Respawn, where he leads editorial strategy across gaming, esports, and pop culture. With a decade of experience in gaming journalism, he has established himself as a trusted voice in the industry.
