Thailand wins PUBG MOBILE gold at the 2026 Asian Games

Thailand also took silver in Naraka: Bladepoint and bronze in Puyo Puyo Champions the week before.

By Pop Radar Asia Desk · 30 October 2026 · 5 min read

Two hands holding a smartphone sideways with a PUBG Mobile game screen showing, a wristwatch on one wrist and a small cup on a wooden table behind — A player on PUBG Mobile in Phnom Penh. Illustrative photo, not taken at the Asian Games.Photo by I'M ZION on Unsplash

Thailand won gold in PUBG MOBILE at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, finishing the two-day final on 29 September with 128 points. China took silver on 114 and Pakistan bronze on 100, according to the publisher's results release and Inven Global. Indonesia and Vietnam tied on 95, five points short of a medal.

The publisher called it Thailand's first podium in PUBG MOBILE esports. It was also Thailand's first esports gold of these Games, Time Out Bangkok reported. A month on, with the Games over, it remains the top result of a three-medal esports run.

How the final was won

Twelve national teams played 12 matches at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname on 28 and 29 September, six a day, the publisher said before the event. The first four matches each day were on Erangel and the last two on Miramar. Standings added placement points and elimination points across both days.

China opened by winning Match 1 on Erangel with 10 eliminations. Thailand answered with two wins and two second places in the next five matches, including a Match 6 win on Miramar with 13 eliminations. After the first day, Thailand led on 75 points, ahead of China on 61, Indonesia on 55 and Vietnam on 51.

Thailand won Match 8 on the way to 128 points and finished first in three of its 12 matches overall, Time Out Bangkok counted. Pakistan scored 61 points on the second day to climb into bronze.

Who Thailand beat

Four teams went straight to the final: hosts Japan, plus China, South Korea and Chinese Taipei, who took gold, silver and bronze at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, where PUBG MOBILE made its Asian Games debut. The other eight, Thailand among them, came through a qualifier in Ho Chi Minh City in June, where 23 teams played over three days and Pakistan finished first. Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Jordan made up the rest of the field.

So the gold came against all three 2022 medallists. Counting the qualifier, 27 national teams entered, which the publisher says made PUBG MOBILE the most widely represented esports title at the Games.

The win was one of three Thai golds on 29 September, alongside Kunlavut Vitidsarn in men's singles badminton and the men's sepak takraw team. The Nation reported that the day lifted Thailand to fifth in the overall table that evening, with 12 gold, nine silver and 12 bronze.

Silver and bronze the week before

Thailand had two esports medals before the PUBG MOBILE final began. On 24 September it beat Vietnam 3-2 in the Naraka: Bladepoint semi-final, Vietnam's VOV reported, then lost the final to China. Naraka has no bronze match, so both beaten semi-finalists, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, took bronze, as Focus Taiwan reported for the Taiwanese team.

Two days later, Tanarak Wongkitikun won bronze in Puyo Puyo Champions, a puzzle title in its first Asian Games as a medal event. He lost his semi-final 10-1 to Japan's Yuki Kurihara, Databoks recorded. Kurihara beat South Korea's Kang Dong-shin 10-2 for gold, and Chinese Taipei's Kuo Tzu-ang shared bronze, Focus Taiwan reported. The Thai daily Naew Na lists all three Thai esports medals in its record of the Games.

Where Thai esports stands now

Esports had 11 medal events in Aichi-Nagoya, the Olympic Council of Asia said, against seven gold medals at Hangzhou, according to Xinhua copy carried by The Star. Thailand came away with one medal of each colour in esports. South Korea, a long-time esports power, won two gold, one silver and two bronze, its federation announced, Inven Global reported.

Across all sports, Thailand finished seventh with 18 gold, 13 silver and 21 bronze, the best result in Southeast Asia, VietnamNet reported.

The open question is where Thai teams play for medals next. On 28 September the OCA rejected reports that esports would leave the Asian Games after Aichi-Nagoya, and Director General Husain Al-Musallam said it would stay, Inven Global reported. It did not say which esports events Doha 2030 will hold. Before that, Kuwait hosts the first Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in 2027, under a host city contract signed on 19 September. Its list of titles is the next one for Thai teams to watch.

FAQ

Who won PUBG MOBILE at the 2026 Asian Games?

Thailand won gold with 128 points over 12 matches. China took silver with 114 points and Pakistan bronze with 100.

How many esports medals did Thailand win in Aichi-Nagoya?

Three: gold in PUBG MOBILE, silver in Naraka: Bladepoint and bronze in Puyo Puyo Champions through Tanarak Wongkitikun.

How did teams qualify for the PUBG MOBILE final?

Japan qualified as host and China, South Korea and Chinese Taipei as the 2022 medallists. Eight more, including Thailand, came through a 23-team qualifier in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2026.

Will esports be at the next Asian Games?

The OCA said on 28 September 2026 that esports will remain a medal sport, but it did not name events for Doha 2030. Kuwait hosts a separate Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in 2027.

Sources

esportsPUBG MOBILEAsian GamesThailandNaraka BladepointPuyo Puyo