diff --git a/src/tictactoe/Board.tsx b/src/tictactoe/Board.tsx
index c8dd082..b9632f0 100644
--- a/src/tictactoe/Board.tsx
+++ b/src/tictactoe/Board.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import React from "react";
+import { motion, AnimatePresence } from "framer-motion";
 
 interface BoardProps {
   board: string[][];
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ export default function Board({
   const isMyTurn = gameReady && myIndex !== -1 && turn === myIndex;
 
   // -------------------------------
-  // 🟦 HEADER STATUS FIXED
+  // STATUS
   // -------------------------------
   let status;
   if (!gameReady) {
@@ -43,16 +44,37 @@ export default function Board({
   }
 
   return (
-    <div>
-      <h2 style={{ marginBottom: 8 }}>{status}</h2>
+    <motion.div
+      initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 10 }}
+      animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
+      transition={{ duration: 0.35 }}
+    >
+      <motion.h2
+        key={status}
+        initial={{ opacity: 0, y: -6 }}
+        animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
+        transition={{ duration: 0.25 }}
+        style={{ marginBottom: 8 }}
+      >
+        {status}
+      </motion.h2>
 
       {gameReady && mySymbol && (
-        <div style={{ marginBottom: 8, fontSize: 14, color: "#666" }}>
-          You: <strong>{mySymbol}</strong> — Opponent: <strong>{opponentSymbol}</strong>
-        </div>
+        <motion.div
+          initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
+          animate={{ opacity: 0.75 }}
+          style={{ marginBottom: 8, fontSize: 14 }}
+        >
+          You: <strong>{mySymbol}</strong> — Opponent:{" "}
+          <strong>{opponentSymbol}</strong>
+        </motion.div>
       )}
 
-      <div
+      {/* -------------------------
+          BOARD
+      -------------------------- */}
+      <motion.div
+        layout
         style={{
           display: "grid",
           gridTemplateColumns: "repeat(3, 80px)",
@@ -70,24 +92,86 @@ export default function Board({
               !isMyTurn;
 
             return (
-              <button
-                key={`${rIdx}-${cIdx}`}
+              <motion.button
+                key={`${rIdx}-${cIdx}-${cell}`} // rerender when cell changes
+                layout
+                whileHover={
+                  !disabled
+                    ? {
+                        scale: 1.1,
+                        boxShadow: "0px 0px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.4)",
+                      }
+                    : {}
+                }
+                whileTap={!disabled ? { scale: 0.85 } : {}}
+                onClick={() => !disabled && onCellClick(rIdx, cIdx)}
                 style={{
                   width: "80px",
                   height: "80px",
                   fontSize: "2rem",
+                  borderRadius: "10px",
+                  border: "2px solid #333",
+                  background: "#111",
+                  color: "white",
                   cursor: disabled ? "not-allowed" : "pointer",
-                }}
-                onClick={() => {
-                  if (!disabled) onCellClick(rIdx, cIdx);
+                  display: "flex",
+                  alignItems: "center",
+                  justifyContent: "center",
                 }}
               >
-                {cell}
-              </button>
+                <AnimatePresence>
+                  {cell && (
+                    <motion.span
+                      key="symbol"
+                      initial={{ scale: 0.3, opacity: 0 }}
+                      animate={{ scale: 1, opacity: 1 }}
+                      exit={{ scale: 0.3, opacity: 0 }}
+                      transition={{ type: "spring", stiffness: 200, damping: 12 }}
+                      style={{
+                        color:
+                          winner === cell
+                            ? "#f1c40f" // highlight winning symbol
+                            : "white",
+                        textShadow:
+                          winner === cell
+                            ? "0 0 12px rgba(241,196,15,0.8)"
+                            : "none",
+                      }}
+                    >
+                      {cell}
+                    </motion.span>
+                  )}
+                </AnimatePresence>
+              </motion.button>
             );
           })
         )}
-      </div>
-    </div>
+      </motion.div>
+
+      {/* Winner pulse animation */}
+      {winner && (
+        <motion.div
+          initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
+          animate={{
+            opacity: 1,
+            scale: [1, 1.06, 1],
+          }}
+          transition={{
+            repeat: Infinity,
+            duration: 1.4,
+            ease: "easeInOut",
+          }}
+          style={{
+            color: "#f1c40f",
+            fontSize: "20px",
+            marginTop: "14px",
+            fontWeight: 700,
+            textAlign: "center",
+          }}
+        >
+          🎉 {winner} Wins! 🎉
+        </motion.div>
+      )}
+    </motion.div>
   );
 }