On the afternoon of December 16, the Thailand Esports Association officially announced the withdrawal of its women’s Mobile Arena team from the ongoing SEA Games.

“The Thailand Esports Association respects all rules, friendship, and the spirit of sportsmanship. However, a serious incident occurred beyond our control. As the host nation, we cannot allow the team to continue,” the statement read.

The decision followed an explosive controversy involving Thai athlete Naphat Warasin, also known by her in-game nickname Tokyogurl, who played in the match against Vietnam - one her team lost 0-3.

During the game, Naphat was seen making a middle-finger gesture directly at the camera, an act that was widely condemned as unsportsmanlike.

Further investigations uncovered a more serious violation: Naphat had installed unauthorized software or hardware to gain an unfair advantage, and possibly allowed another individual to play on her behalf.

Following the discovery, the SEA Games 33 esports technical committee issued a formal statement:

“Naphat Warasin has violated rule 9.4.3 by installing unauthorized software or hardware, and must be disqualified from SEA Games competition.”

In response, the game publisher and service provider issued its own ruling, imposing a permanent ban on Naphat Warasin from participating in any future competitions, starting December 16.

The provider emphasized its commitment to upholding fairness, transparency, and ethics in the world of esports.

This incident has ignited widespread discussion on the integrity of competitive gaming and sportsmanship at international tournaments.

Despite the misconduct, it was Vietnam who convincingly triumphed in the match - winning 3-0 and advancing further in the SEA Games esports bracket.

Dai Nam