diff --git a/src/matches/jobs/CancelExpiredMatches.spec.ts b/src/matches/jobs/CancelExpiredMatches.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1283dec1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/matches/jobs/CancelExpiredMatches.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+import { CancelExpiredMatches } from "./CancelExpiredMatches";
+
+const expiredTournamentMatch = (overrides: Record<string, any> = {}) => ({
+  id: "match-1",
+  is_tournament_match: true,
+  options: {
+    match_mode: "auto",
+  },
+  lineup_1: {
+    id: "lineup-1",
+    is_ready: false,
+  },
+  lineup_2: {
+    id: "lineup-2",
+    is_ready: false,
+  },
+  ...overrides,
+});
+
+describe("CancelExpiredMatches", () => {
+  const logger = {
+    log: jest.fn(),
+  };
+  const hasura = {
+    mutation: jest.fn(),
+    query: jest.fn(),
+  };
+  const notifications = {
+    send: jest.fn(),
+  };
+
+  let job: CancelExpiredMatches;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+    hasura.mutation.mockResolvedValue({
+      update_matches: {
+        affected_rows: 0,
+      },
+    });
+    hasura.query.mockResolvedValue({
+      matches: [],
+    });
+    job = new CancelExpiredMatches(
+      logger as any,
+      hasura as any,
+      notifications as any,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("requests organizer attention for admin-mode tournament matches when neither lineup is ready", async () => {
+    hasura.query.mockResolvedValue({
+      matches: [
+        expiredTournamentMatch({
+          options: {
+            match_mode: "admin",
+          },
+        }),
+      ],
+    });
+
+    await expect(job.process()).resolves.toBe(1);
+
+    expect(hasura.mutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        update_matches_by_pk: expect.objectContaining({
+          __args: expect.objectContaining({
+            pk_columns: {
+              id: "match-1",
+            },
+            _set: {
+              cancels_at: null,
+            },
+          }),
+        }),
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(hasura.mutation).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        update_matches_by_pk: expect.objectContaining({
+          __args: expect.objectContaining({
+            _set: expect.objectContaining({
+              status: "Forfeit",
+            }),
+          }),
+        }),
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(notifications.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith("MatchSupport", {
+      message: "Tournament match requires admin attention: match-1",
+      title: "Tournament match requires attention",
+      role: "tournament_organizer",
+      entity_id: "match-1",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("forfeits auto-mode tournament matches when neither lineup is ready", async () => {
+    jest.spyOn(Math, "random").mockReturnValue(0.25);
+    hasura.query.mockResolvedValue({
+      matches: [expiredTournamentMatch()],
+    });
+
+    await job.process();
+
+    expect(hasura.mutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        update_matches_by_pk: expect.objectContaining({
+          __args: expect.objectContaining({
+            pk_columns: {
+              id: "match-1",
+            },
+            _set: {
+              status: "Forfeit",
+              winning_lineup_id: "lineup-1",
+            },
+          }),
+        }),
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(notifications.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("forfeits to the ready lineup even in admin mode", async () => {
+    hasura.query.mockResolvedValue({
+      matches: [
+        expiredTournamentMatch({
+          options: {
+            match_mode: "admin",
+          },
+          lineup_2: {
+            id: "lineup-2",
+            is_ready: true,
+          },
+        }),
+      ],
+    });
+
+    await job.process();
+
+    expect(hasura.mutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        update_matches_by_pk: expect.objectContaining({
+          __args: expect.objectContaining({
+            _set: {
+              status: "Forfeit",
+              winning_lineup_id: "lineup-2",
+            },
+          }),
+        }),
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(notifications.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/matches/jobs/CancelExpiredMatches.ts b/src/matches/jobs/CancelExpiredMatches.ts
index ab89f3f1..f4a6e97e 100644
--- a/src/matches/jobs/CancelExpiredMatches.ts
+++ b/src/matches/jobs/CancelExpiredMatches.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@ import { WorkerHost } from "@nestjs/bullmq";
 import { MatchQueues } from "../enums/MatchQueues";
 import { UseQueue } from "../../utilities/QueueProcessors";
 import { HasuraService } from "../../hasura/hasura.service";
+import { NotificationsService } from "../../notifications/notifications.service";
 
 @UseQueue("Matches", MatchQueues.ScheduledMatches)
 export class CancelExpiredMatches extends WorkerHost {
   constructor(
     private readonly logger: Logger,
     private readonly hasura: HasuraService,
+    private readonly notifications: NotificationsService,
   ) {
     super();
   }
@@ -50,25 +52,37 @@ export class CancelExpiredMatches extends WorkerHost {
 
     const tournamentMatches = await this.getTournamentMatches();
     for (const tournamentMatch of tournamentMatches) {
-      await this.forfeitMatch(tournamentMatch);
+      await this.handleExpiredTournamentMatch(tournamentMatch);
     }
 
-    const totalCanceledMatches =
+    const totalExpiredMatches =
       update_matches.affected_rows + tournamentMatches.length;
-    if (totalCanceledMatches > 0) {
-      this.logger.log(`canceled ${totalCanceledMatches} matches`);
+    if (totalExpiredMatches > 0) {
+      this.logger.log(`processed ${totalExpiredMatches} expired matches`);
     }
 
-    return totalCanceledMatches;
+    return totalExpiredMatches;
+  }
+
+  private async handleExpiredTournamentMatch(
+    match: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof this.getTournamentMatches>>[number],
+  ) {
+    const hasReadyLineup = match.lineup_1.is_ready || match.lineup_2.is_ready;
+    const isAdminMode = match.options?.match_mode === "admin";
+
+    if (!hasReadyLineup && isAdminMode) {
+      await this.requestOrganizerAttention(match.id);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    await this.forfeitMatch(match);
   }
 
   private async forfeitMatch(
     match: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof this.getTournamentMatches>>[number],
   ) {
-    const winningLineupId = match.lineup_1.is_ready
-      ? match.lineup_1.id
-      : match.lineup_2.id;
-    void this.hasura.mutation({
+    const winningLineupId = this.getWinningLineupId(match);
+    await this.hasura.mutation({
       update_matches_by_pk: {
         __args: {
           pk_columns: {
@@ -84,6 +98,43 @@ export class CancelExpiredMatches extends WorkerHost {
     });
   }
 
+  private getWinningLineupId(
+    match: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof this.getTournamentMatches>>[number],
+  ) {
+    if (match.lineup_1.is_ready) {
+      return match.lineup_1.id;
+    }
+
+    if (match.lineup_2.is_ready) {
+      return match.lineup_2.id;
+    }
+
+    return Math.random() < 0.5 ? match.lineup_1.id : match.lineup_2.id;
+  }
+
+  private async requestOrganizerAttention(matchId: string) {
+    await this.hasura.mutation({
+      update_matches_by_pk: {
+        __args: {
+          pk_columns: {
+            id: matchId,
+          },
+          _set: {
+            cancels_at: null,
+          },
+        },
+        __typename: true,
+      },
+    });
+
+    await this.notifications.send("MatchSupport", {
+      message: `Tournament match requires admin attention: ${matchId}`,
+      title: "Tournament match requires attention",
+      role: "tournament_organizer",
+      entity_id: matchId,
+    });
+  }
+
   private async getTournamentMatches() {
     const { matches } = await this.hasura.query({
       matches: {
@@ -110,6 +161,9 @@ export class CancelExpiredMatches extends WorkerHost {
         },
         id: true,
         is_tournament_match: true,
+        options: {
+          match_mode: true,
+        },
         lineup_1: {
           id: true,
           is_ready: true,