diff --git a/src/tictactoe/Player.tsx b/src/tictactoe/Player.tsx
index 64880f1..faa47f3 100644
--- a/src/tictactoe/Player.tsx
+++ b/src/tictactoe/Player.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export default function Player({
     localStorage.getItem("username") ?? ""
   );
   const [selectedMode, setSelectedMode] = useState("classic");
+  const [isQueueing, setIsQueueing] = useState(false);
 
   // ------------------------------------------
   // CONNECT
@@ -36,8 +37,21 @@ export default function Player({
   // MATCHMAKING
   // ------------------------------------------
   async function startQueue(selectedMode: string) {
-    const ticket = await joinMatchmaker(selectedMode);
-    console.log("Queued:", ticket);
+    setIsQueueing(true);
+
+    try {
+      const ticket = await joinMatchmaker(selectedMode);
+      console.log("Queued:", ticket);
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error("Matchmaking failed:", err);
+      setIsQueueing(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function cancelQueue() {
+    setIsQueueing(false);
+    // Nakama matchmaker tickets auto-expire by default in your setup.
+    // If you later add manual ticket cancel RPC, call it here.
   }
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -148,22 +162,75 @@ export default function Player({
               <option value="blitz">Blitz</option>
             </select>
 
-            <motion.button
-              whileTap={{ scale: 0.95 }}
-              onClick={() => startQueue(selectedMode)}
-              style={{
-                padding: "10px 20px",
-                borderRadius: "12px",
-                background: "#3498db",
-                color: "white",
-                border: "none",
-                marginRight: "10px",
-                cursor: "pointer",
-                fontWeight: 600,
-              }}
-            >
-              Join Matchmaking
-            </motion.button>
+            {!isQueueing && (
+              <motion.button
+                whileTap={{ scale: 0.95 }}
+                onClick={() => startQueue(selectedMode)}
+                style={{
+                  padding: "10px 20px",
+                  borderRadius: "12px",
+                  background: "#3498db",
+                  color: "white",
+                  border: "none",
+                  marginRight: "10px",
+                  cursor: "pointer",
+                  fontWeight: 600,
+                }}
+              >
+                Join Matchmaking
+              </motion.button>
+            )}
+
+            {/* Queueing animation */}
+            {isQueueing && (
+              <motion.div
+                initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
+                animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+                transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
+                style={{
+                  marginTop: "10px",
+                  marginBottom: "10px",
+                  padding: "12px 16px",
+                  borderRadius: "12px",
+                  background: "#222",
+                  color: "white",
+                  display: "inline-block",
+                  fontSize: "14px",
+                  border: "1px solid #333",
+                }}
+              >
+                <div style={{ marginBottom: "6px", fontWeight: 600 }}>
+                  Finding an opponent…
+                </div>
+
+                {/* Animated pulsing dots */}
+                <motion.div
+                  animate={{ opacity: [0.3, 1, 0.3] }}
+                  transition={{ duration: 1.2, repeat: Infinity }}
+                  style={{ letterSpacing: "2px", fontSize: "18px" }}
+                >
+                  ● ● ●
+                </motion.div>
+
+                {/* Cancel button */}
+                <button
+                  onClick={cancelQueue}
+                  style={{
+                    marginTop: "10px",
+                    padding: "6px 12px",
+                    borderRadius: "8px",
+                    background: "#e74c3c",
+                    color: "white",
+                    border: "none",
+                    cursor: "pointer",
+                    fontSize: "12px",
+                    fontWeight: 600,
+                  }}
+                >
+                  Cancel
+                </button>
+              </motion.div>
+            )}
 
             <motion.button
               whileTap={{ scale: 0.95 }}