ROV Introduces New Anti-Cheat Measures at SEA Games

Esports at the SEA Games is stepping up its integrity measures after a recent cheating incident in ROV. To restore trust and maintain competitive standards, organizers have implemented stricter on-site monitoring systems.

The controversy arose when Tokyogurl, a female ROV national team player, was caught using remote software to allow another person to play on her behalf. The infraction was detected live during broadcast, providing undeniable evidence and sparking major discussion across the esports community.

Following the incident, Santi Lothong, President of the Asian Esports Federation and the Thai Esports Association, announced the withdrawal of the entire Thai women’s ROV team from SEA Games competition to emphasize zero tolerance for cheating.

For the men’s team competitions, ROV organizers have introduced a new transparency measure: each player must project their mobile gameplay screen onto a laptop in front of them. This allows officials to continuously monitor for screen swapping, suspicious software, or any abnormal behavior. The system reduces cheating opportunities and ensures tighter control during matches.

Interestingly, this method of live screen monitoring is not entirely new; it has been used in the RPL Pro League, a professional-level tournament. However, SEA Games had not fully implemented it until now, making the recent incident a pivotal lesson for organizers.

This move demonstrates a serious commitment to elevating the standards of Thai esports to an international level. Although fans were disappointed by past incidents, the new measures signal a positive direction for fair and transparent competition. In the long term, it is expected that selection and monitoring systems will also become more transparent and professional.

What are your thoughts on ROV’s new anti-cheat measures at SEA Games?