diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/ChessGameOverlay.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/ChessGameOverlay.svelte
index 55980b8..2664751 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/ChessGameOverlay.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/ChessGameOverlay.svelte
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
         try {
             const chessModule = await import('chess.js');
             Chess = chessModule.Chess;
+            // Don't initialize with default position - we'll load Chess960 FEN later
             game = new Chess();
 
             // Set up match event handler
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@
 
             // Load the Chess960 starting position
             if (game && payload.fen) {
-                game.load(payload.fen);
+                game.load(payload.fen, { chess960: true });
                 updateBoardDisplay();
             }
 
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@
             myColor = payload.whiteId === session?.user_id ? 'w' : 'b';
 
             if (game) {
-                game.load(payload.fen);
+                game.load(payload.fen, { chess960: true });
             }
 
             gamesOverlay.setMode('playing');
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@
             myColor = null; // Spectator has no color
 
             if (game) {
-                game.load(payload.fen);
+                game.load(payload.fen, { chess960: true });
             }
 
             gamesOverlay.setMode('spectating');
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@
 
     function handleOpponentMove(payload) {
         if (game) {
-            game.load(payload.fen);
+            game.load(payload.fen, { chess960: true });
         }
         moveHistory = [...moveHistory, payload.move];