diff --git a/frontend/src/App.vue b/frontend/src/App.vue
index 8e20f9d..b750dce 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/App.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import { onMounted } from 'vue'
 import { RouterView } from 'vue-router'
 import NavBar from './components/NavBar.vue'
+import { ensureAudioContext } from './game/sounds'
+
+// Unlock AudioContext + SpeechSynthesis on first user interaction (mobile requires gesture)
+onMounted(() => {
+  const unlock = () => {
+    ensureAudioContext()
+    document.removeEventListener('touchstart', unlock)
+    document.removeEventListener('click', unlock)
+  }
+  document.addEventListener('touchstart', unlock, { once: true, passive: true })
+  document.addEventListener('click', unlock, { once: true })
+})
 </script>
 
 <template>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/FightViewer.vue b/frontend/src/components/FightViewer.vue
index 1edec5d..7596dff 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/FightViewer.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/FightViewer.vue
@@ -142,13 +142,26 @@ async function initScene() {
   }
   canvasRef.value = newCanvas
 
-  scene = await createFightScene({
-    canvas: newCanvas,
-    botA: { name: props.fight.botA.name, seed: props.fight.botA.avatarSeed || props.fight.botA.name, tier: props.fight.botA.tier, archetype: props.fight.botA.archetype, customization: props.fight.botA.customization as any, wins: props.fight.botA.wins, losses: props.fight.botA.losses },
-    botB: { name: props.fight.botB.name, seed: props.fight.botB.avatarSeed || props.fight.botB.name, tier: props.fight.botB.tier, archetype: props.fight.botB.archetype, customization: props.fight.botB.customization as any, wins: props.fight.botB.wins, losses: props.fight.botB.losses },
-    arena: props.fight.arena,
-  })
-  sceneReady.value = true
+  // Wrap scene creation in try/catch + timeout so a mobile sprite loading failure
+  // or hang never blocks the overlay/voice/round flow
+  try {
+    const scenePromise = createFightScene({
+      canvas: newCanvas,
+      botA: { name: props.fight.botA.name, seed: props.fight.botA.avatarSeed || props.fight.botA.name, tier: props.fight.botA.tier, archetype: props.fight.botA.archetype, customization: props.fight.botA.customization as any, wins: props.fight.botA.wins, losses: props.fight.botA.losses },
+      botB: { name: props.fight.botB.name, seed: props.fight.botB.avatarSeed || props.fight.botB.name, tier: props.fight.botB.tier, archetype: props.fight.botB.archetype, customization: props.fight.botB.customization as any, wins: props.fight.botB.wins, losses: props.fight.botB.losses },
+      arena: props.fight.arena,
+    })
+    const timeout = new Promise<null>((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(null), 10_000))
+    const result = await Promise.race([scenePromise, timeout])
+    if (result) {
+      scene = result
+      sceneReady.value = true
+    } else {
+      console.warn('[FightViewer] Scene creation timed out (10s) — continuing without canvas')
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('[FightViewer] Scene creation failed — continuing without canvas:', err)
+  }
 }
 
 const challengeLabel = (type: string) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/game/FightScene.ts b/frontend/src/game/FightScene.ts
index 18ab764..ee5bbe2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/game/FightScene.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/game/FightScene.ts
@@ -284,20 +284,32 @@ export async function createFightScene(config: FightSceneConfig) {
   const isHumanA = botA.archetype === 'human'
   const isHumanB = botB.archetype === 'human'
 
-  // Await sprite loading to prevent race condition where scene starts before sprites decode
+  // Helper: load sprite with a 5s timeout so mobile never hangs forever
+  async function loadSpriteWithTimeout(name: string, src: string, opts: any): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      await Promise.race([
+        k.loadSprite(name, src, opts),
+        new Promise<never>((_resolve, reject) => setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('timeout')), 5_000)),
+      ])
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.warn(`[FightScene] Sprite '${name}' failed/timed out:`, err)
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Await sprite loading — timeout prevents mobile hangs
   await Promise.all([
-    k.loadSprite('botA', sheetA, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims }),
-    k.loadSprite('botB', sheetB, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims }),
+    loadSpriteWithTimeout('botA', sheetA, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims }),
+    loadSpriteWithTimeout('botB', sheetB, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims }),
   ])
 
   // Preload bot sprites for human fighters (used when humans morph into bots)
   if (isHumanA) {
     const botSheetA = generateSpriteSheet(botA.seed, botA.tier, colorsA.primary, colorsA.secondary)
-    k.loadSprite('botA_morph', botSheetA, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims })
+    loadSpriteWithTimeout('botA_morph', botSheetA, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims })
   }
   if (isHumanB) {
     const botSheetB = generateSpriteSheet(botB.seed, botB.tier, colorsB.primary, colorsB.secondary)
-    k.loadSprite('botB_morph', botSheetB, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims })
+    loadSpriteWithTimeout('botB_morph', botSheetB, { sliceX: MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: TOTAL_ROWS, anims: spriteAnims })
   }
 
   // Judge sprite (red lobster referee)
@@ -308,7 +320,7 @@ export async function createFightScene(config: FightSceneConfig) {
     call_right: { from: JUDGE_MAX_FRAMES * 2, to: JUDGE_MAX_FRAMES * 2 + JUDGE_ANIMATIONS.call_right.frames - 1, loop: false, speed: 8 },
     shocked:    { from: JUDGE_MAX_FRAMES * 3, to: JUDGE_MAX_FRAMES * 3 + JUDGE_ANIMATIONS.shocked.frames - 1, loop: false, speed: 10 },
   }
-  await k.loadSprite('judge', judgeSheet, { sliceX: JUDGE_MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: JUDGE_ROWS, anims: judgeAnims })
+  await loadSpriteWithTimeout('judge', judgeSheet, { sliceX: JUDGE_MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: JUDGE_ROWS, anims: judgeAnims })
 
   // Human sprites (the bot owner's silly human avatar for crowd)
   const humanSheetA = generateHumanSpriteSheet(botA.seed, botA.archetype || 'standard', colorsA.primary, colorsA.secondary, winRateA)
@@ -318,8 +330,8 @@ export async function createFightScene(config: FightSceneConfig) {
     humanAnims[name] = { from: cfg.row * HUMAN_MAX_FRAMES, to: cfg.row * HUMAN_MAX_FRAMES + cfg.frames - 1, loop: true, speed: 6 }
   }
   await Promise.all([
-    k.loadSprite('humanA', humanSheetA, { sliceX: HUMAN_MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: HUMAN_ROWS, anims: humanAnims }),
-    k.loadSprite('humanB', humanSheetB, { sliceX: HUMAN_MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: HUMAN_ROWS, anims: humanAnims }),
+    loadSpriteWithTimeout('humanA', humanSheetA, { sliceX: HUMAN_MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: HUMAN_ROWS, anims: humanAnims }),
+    loadSpriteWithTimeout('humanB', humanSheetB, { sliceX: HUMAN_MAX_FRAMES, sliceY: HUMAN_ROWS, anims: humanAnims }),
   ])
 
   const W = k.width()
@@ -8033,6 +8045,10 @@ export async function createFightScene(config: FightSceneConfig) {
     },
 
     async playRound(event: RoundEvent) {
+      const fA = k.get('fighterA')[0]
+      const fB = k.get('fighterB')[0]
+      if (!fA || !fB) { await k.wait(0.5); return } // Sprites missing (mobile load failure) — skip animation
+
       const aWon = event.winnerId === event.botAId
       const bWon = event.winnerId === event.botBId
       const margin = Math.abs(event.botAScore - event.botBScore)
@@ -8045,8 +8061,6 @@ export async function createFightScene(config: FightSceneConfig) {
       const exchangeCount = 2 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 3)
       // Hyperdetail scales with intensity
       const hyperDetail = Math.random() < (0.05 + intensity * 0.45)
-      const fA = k.get('fighterA')[0]
-      const fB = k.get('fighterB')[0]
       const savedScaleAX = fA?.scale.x
       const savedScaleAY = fA?.scale.y
       const savedScaleBX = fB?.scale.x
diff --git a/frontend/src/game/sounds.ts b/frontend/src/game/sounds.ts
index 7f9e5bd..a7b5d7f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/game/sounds.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/game/sounds.ts
@@ -347,55 +347,24 @@ function speak(text: string, profileName: string, cancelPrevious: boolean = fals
   speechSynthesis.speak(utter)
 }
 
-/** Like speakAsync but with a forced minimum rate + Chrome keepalive */
-function speakAsyncWithRate(text: string, profileName: string, minRate: number): Promise<void> {
-  return new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
-    if (typeof speechSynthesis === 'undefined' || masterMuted) { resolve(); return }
-    if (!voicesLoaded) loadVoices()
-    if (speechSynthesis.paused) speechSynthesis.resume()
-    const profile = voiceProfiles[profileName] || voiceProfiles.announcer
-    const utter = new SpeechSynthesisUtterance(text)
-    if (profile.voice) utter.voice = profile.voice
-    utter.pitch = profile.pitch
-    utter.rate = Math.max(minRate, profile.rate)
-    utter.volume = profile.volume * VOICE_VOLUME_SCALE
-    _speechQueueDepth++
-    let done = false
-    const cleanup = () => {
-      if (done) return
-      done = true
-      clearTimeout(safetyTimeout)
-      clearInterval(keepalive)
-      _speechQueueDepth = Math.max(0, _speechQueueDepth - 1)
-      resolve()
-    }
-    const safetyTimeout = setTimeout(cleanup, 15_000)
-    // Chrome bug workaround: speechSynthesis silently kills utterances after ~15s.
-    // Periodic pause/resume resets Chrome's internal timer.
-    const keepalive = setInterval(() => {
-      if (speechSynthesis.speaking && !speechSynthesis.paused) {
-        speechSynthesis.pause()
-        speechSynthesis.resume()
-      }
-    }, 10_000)
-    utter.onend = cleanup
-    utter.onerror = cleanup
-    speechSynthesis.speak(utter)
-  })
-}
+// iOS Safari breaks with pause()/resume() — only do keepalive on desktop Chrome
+const _isIOS = typeof navigator !== 'undefined' && /iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(navigator.userAgent)
+const _isDesktopChrome = typeof navigator !== 'undefined' && /Chrome/.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/Mobile/.test(navigator.userAgent)
 
-/** Like speak() but returns a promise that resolves when the utterance finishes */
-function speakAsync(text: string, profileName: string, cancelPrevious: boolean = false): Promise<void> {
+/** Core async speak — resolves when speech finishes or bails fast if speech won't work */
+function _speakAsyncCore(text: string, profileName: string, rateOverride?: number, cancelPrevious?: boolean): Promise<void> {
   return new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
     if (typeof speechSynthesis === 'undefined' || masterMuted) { resolve(); return }
     if (!voicesLoaded) loadVoices()
+    // No voices available = speech won't work, bail immediately
+    if (!voicesLoaded) { resolve(); return }
     if (speechSynthesis.paused) speechSynthesis.resume()
     if (cancelPrevious) { speechSynthesis.cancel(); _speechQueueDepth = 0 }
     const profile = voiceProfiles[profileName] || voiceProfiles.announcer
     const utter = new SpeechSynthesisUtterance(text)
     if (profile.voice) utter.voice = profile.voice
     utter.pitch = profile.pitch
-    utter.rate = profile.rate
+    utter.rate = rateOverride !== undefined ? Math.max(rateOverride, profile.rate) : profile.rate
     utter.volume = profile.volume * VOICE_VOLUME_SCALE
     _speechQueueDepth++
     let done = false
@@ -403,24 +372,44 @@ function speakAsync(text: string, profileName: string, cancelPrevious: boolean =
       if (done) return
       done = true
       clearTimeout(safetyTimeout)
-      clearInterval(keepalive)
+      clearTimeout(startupCheck)
+      if (keepalive) clearInterval(keepalive)
       _speechQueueDepth = Math.max(0, _speechQueueDepth - 1)
       resolve()
     }
-    const safetyTimeout = setTimeout(cleanup, 15_000)
-    // Chrome keepalive: periodic pause/resume prevents silent cutoff
-    const keepalive = setInterval(() => {
-      if (speechSynthesis.speaking && !speechSynthesis.paused) {
-        speechSynthesis.pause()
-        speechSynthesis.resume()
-      }
-    }, 10_000)
+    // Hard safety cap — never block longer than 8s
+    const safetyTimeout = setTimeout(cleanup, 8_000)
+    // Fast bail: if speech hasn't started within 500ms, it's not going to work (mobile/no gesture)
+    const startupCheck = setTimeout(() => {
+      if (!speechSynthesis.speaking && !speechSynthesis.pending) cleanup()
+    }, 500)
+    // Desktop Chrome keepalive: periodic pause/resume prevents Chrome's 15s silent cutoff
+    // Do NOT do this on iOS — it permanently kills speech on Safari
+    let keepalive: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+    if (_isDesktopChrome) {
+      keepalive = setInterval(() => {
+        if (speechSynthesis.speaking && !speechSynthesis.paused) {
+          speechSynthesis.pause()
+          speechSynthesis.resume()
+        }
+      }, 10_000)
+    }
     utter.onend = cleanup
     utter.onerror = cleanup
     speechSynthesis.speak(utter)
   })
 }
 
+/** Like speakAsync but with a forced minimum rate */
+function speakAsyncWithRate(text: string, profileName: string, minRate: number): Promise<void> {
+  return _speakAsyncCore(text, profileName, minRate)
+}
+
+/** Like speak() but returns a promise that resolves when the utterance finishes */
+function speakAsync(text: string, profileName: string, cancelPrevious: boolean = false): Promise<void> {
+  return _speakAsyncCore(text, profileName, undefined, cancelPrevious)
+}
+
 export function stopAllAudio() {
   stopMusic()
   if (typeof speechSynthesis !== 'undefined') speechSynthesis.cancel()
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue b/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
index ec4e2d5..42f5336 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { useNostr } from '../composables/useNostr'
 import { useWallet } from '../composables/useWallet'
 import SpritePreview from '../components/SpritePreview.vue'
+import { ensureAudioContext } from '../game/sounds'
 import HumanPreview from '../components/HumanPreview.vue'
 import WalletConnect from '../components/WalletConnect.vue'
 
@@ -384,6 +385,8 @@ async function practice() {
   if (!bot.value || isJoiningPractice.value) return
   isJoiningPractice.value = true
   error.value = ''
+  // Unlock audio/speech NOW while we're in user gesture context (lost after async navigation)
+  ensureAudioContext()
   try {
     const res = await fetch(`/api/fights/practice/${bot.value.id}`, { method: 'POST' })
     if (res.ok) {