A top Thai esports player and her partner were arrested for cheating during the 33rd SEA Games. Naphat “Tokyogurl” Warasin, who played for Thailand’s women’s Arena of Valor team, was caught using technology to cheat in a major tournament.
Tokyogurl was arrested with Chaiyo “Cheerio”. Police called the investigation “Operation Ghostbuster.” Authorities are treating this as a serious computer crime because it damaged Thailand’s reputation. According to Sheep Esports, the cheating was discovered during a match against Vietnam.
Referees noticed something suspicious was happening on stage during the game. Tokyogurl used a fake phone setup and got remote help to cheat during the game. She brought her personal phone that looked just like the official tournament phone. She used it to connect to Discord and share her screen with Cheerio, who was playing from somewhere else.
The cheating scheme involved careful planning and secret phone swapping
To avoid getting caught by cameras and officials, Tokyogurl hid the real tournament phone under her legs. Cheerio explained the swap during questioning: “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 plan fell apart when referees changed the password during the final round. Tokyogurl had to take control of her own account, and it became clear she didn’t have the needed skills. This case highlights concerns about remote players taking over accounts in competitive gaming.
The reason behind the cheating is surprising. Cheerio admitted he had been playing for Naphat since May 2025. He said he needed her financial support. “I live alone and I need money,” he said. “She looked after me, helped me with my move, helped me buy things. If I had nothing for food or rent, she helped me.”
For winning the SEA Games, Naphat promised Cheerio a new iPhone. Even if they lost, she would still pay for his basic needs. Cheerio later apologized: “I would like to apologize to the Association, the organizers, and society. Please forgive me, I will not do it again.”
The punishments came quickly. The Thai Esports Federation and Garena banned Naphat for life. Her team, TALON, ended her contract on December 16, 2025. Thailand’s team captain said the team had doubts during training camp.
She noticed Tokyogurl’s skill level was “completely different” between practice and matches. The entire team withdrew from the competition. Vietnam won the gold medal as a result. The use of hidden devices raises questions similar to controversies about surveillance technology in competitive settings.
Both defendants are being charged under the Computer Crime Act of 2007. Police Major General Pattanasak Bubphasuwan said “this case is not a simple game fraud; it is a technological crime that harms the dignity and honor of the nation.” Both pleaded guilty and could face up to two years in prison and a fine of 40,000 baht, about $1,287. The court will announce the final decision on March 17, 2026.
Published: Feb 14, 2026 04:15 pm