LayarHijau – Garena, the publisher of Realm of Valor (ROV), the Thai regional title of Arena of Valor (AOV), has imposed a competition ban on Thai esports athlete Tokyogurl following violations that occurred during the 2025 SEA Games. The sanction means Tokyogurl is no longer permitted to participate in any ROV tournaments under Garena’s jurisdiction.
Tokyogurl, whose real name is Naphat Worasit, was a member of Thailand’s national team competing in the women’s ROV event at the 33rd SEA Games. Her name drew widespread attention after Thailand suffered a 0–3 defeat against Vietnam in a match broadcast live across multiple ASEAN countries.
During the broadcast, Tokyogurl was caught on camera making an inappropriate hand gesture toward the live feed. Although a teammate seated next to her appeared to warn her to stop, the incident still sparked backlash, as it was deemed inconsistent with the standards of conduct expected from athletes at an international multi-sport event.
Shortly afterward, allegations emerged regarding a technical violation involving the use of software that was not permitted under competition regulations. These allegations were subsequently reviewed through an official investigation by the relevant authorities.
The investigation concluded that a violation had indeed occurred, leading to Tokyogurl’s disqualification from the 2025 SEA Games. As a consequence, the Thailand Esports Association decided to withdraw the women’s ROV team from the event, citing a breach of competition rules, including provisions outlined under regulation 9.4.3.
In response to the incident, Garena announced a comprehensive competition ban, barring Tokyogurl from all Realm of Valor tournaments. The publisher stated that the decision was made to uphold integrity, fairness, and sportsmanship within the competitive esports ecosystem.
Prior to Garena’s announcement, esports organization TALON had also confirmed the termination of Tokyogurl’s contract, effective December 16, 2025, citing compliance with international competition standards and organizational responsibility.
The Tokyogurl case has since become one of the most high-profile esports controversies in Thailand during the 2025 SEA Games, underscoring the strict regulations and serious consequences surrounding rule violations in international esports competitions.
