diff --git a/cmd/acb-mapgen/main.go b/cmd/acb-mapgen/main.go
index 2ac6333..12756ca 100644
--- a/cmd/acb-mapgen/main.go
+++ b/cmd/acb-mapgen/main.go
@@ -174,7 +174,11 @@ func generateMap(numPlayers, rows, cols int, wallDensity float64, numEnergyNodes
 		})
 	}
 
-	// Generate energy nodes with rotational symmetry
+	// Generate energy nodes with rotational symmetry.
+	// Tiered radius distribution biases toward center to force contested energy:
+	// - 30% central (0.05-0.20): contested central zone
+	// - 40% mid (0.20-0.40): mid-zone
+	// - 30% home (0.40-0.60): home zone
 	nodesPerSector := numEnergyNodes / numPlayers
 	usedPositions := make(map[Position]bool)
 
@@ -186,7 +190,17 @@ func generateMap(numPlayers, rows, cols int, wallDensity float64, numEnergyNodes
 	for i := 0; i < nodesPerSector; i++ {
 		for attempt := 0; attempt < 100; attempt++ {
 			angle := rng.Float64() * 2.0 * math.Pi / float64(numPlayers)
-			radius := 0.2 + rng.Float64()*0.5 // 20-70% from center
+			// Tiered radius: bias toward center to force contested energy collection.
+			// 30% central (forces both players to midfield), 40% mid, 30% home.
+			var radius float64
+			switch {
+			case i < nodesPerSector*3/10:
+				radius = 0.05 + rng.Float64()*0.15 // 0.05–0.20: contested central zone
+			case i < nodesPerSector*7/10:
+				radius = 0.20 + rng.Float64()*0.20 // 0.20–0.40: mid-zone
+			default:
+				radius = 0.40 + rng.Float64()*0.20 // 0.40–0.60: home zone
+			}
 			r := centerRow + int(float64(centerRow)*radius*math.Cos(angle))
 			c := centerCol + int(float64(centerCol)*radius*math.Sin(angle))
 			pos := wrap(r, c)
diff --git a/cmd/acb-mapgen/mapgen_test.go b/cmd/acb-mapgen/mapgen_test.go
index 476f09b..8133085 100644
--- a/cmd/acb-mapgen/mapgen_test.go
+++ b/cmd/acb-mapgen/mapgen_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"math"
 	"math/rand"
 	"testing"
 )
@@ -189,3 +190,36 @@ func TestGenerateMap_Deterministic(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestGenerateMap_CenterWeightedEnergy(t *testing.T) {
+	// Verify energy nodes are biased toward the map center.
+	// For 2-player with 20 energy nodes, expect at least 30% in central zone.
+	// The tiered distribution should place ~30% of nodes in the inner 20% radius.
+	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(42))
+	m := EnsureConnectivity(2, 60, 60, 0.15, 20, rng, 100)
+	if m == nil {
+		t.Fatal("failed to generate map")
+	}
+	if len(m.EnergyNodes) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected energy nodes, got 0")
+	}
+
+	centerRow, centerCol := m.Rows/2, m.Cols/2
+	maxRadius := float64(centerRow) * 0.20 // 20% of center distance = central zone
+	centralCount := 0
+
+	for _, en := range m.EnergyNodes {
+		dr := float64(en.Row) - float64(centerRow)
+		dc := float64(en.Col) - float64(centerCol)
+		dist := math.Sqrt(dr*dr + dc*dc)
+		if dist <= maxRadius {
+			centralCount++
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Expect at least 20% in central zone (allowing some variance for randomness)
+	minCentral := int(float64(len(m.EnergyNodes)) * 0.20)
+	if centralCount < minCentral {
+		t.Errorf("expected at least %d energy nodes in central zone, got %d", minCentral, centralCount)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/engine/integration_test.go b/engine/integration_test.go
index 6d2f646..b8666c6 100644
--- a/engine/integration_test.go
+++ b/engine/integration_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package engine
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"math"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"testing"
@@ -194,3 +195,64 @@ func createMockBotServer(t *testing.T, secret string, playerID int) *httptest.Se
 		w.Write(body)
 	}))
 }
+// TestIntegration_CenterWeightedEnergy verifies that energy nodes are biased
+// toward the map center to force contested energy collection.
+func TestIntegration_CenterWeightedEnergy(t *testing.T) {
+	secret := "test-energy-secret"
+	server := createMockBotServer(t, secret, 0)
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	auth := AuthConfig{BotID: "b_test", Secret: secret, MatchID: "m_energy_test"}
+	bot := NewHTTPBot(server.URL, auth, WithHTTPTimeout(5*time.Second))
+
+	config := DefaultConfig()
+	config.Rows = 60
+	config.Cols = 60
+	config.MaxTurns = 10 // Short match for fast test
+
+	runner := NewMatchRunner(config,
+		WithRNG(rand.New(rand.NewSource(42))),
+		WithTimeout(5*time.Second),
+	)
+
+	runner.AddBot(bot, "TestBot")
+	runner.AddBot(bot, "TestBot2")
+
+	result, replay, err := runner.Run()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Match failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if result == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Match result is nil")
+	}
+
+	if replay == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Replay is nil")
+	}
+
+	// Count energy nodes in central zone (20% of map radius)
+	centerRow, centerCol := config.Rows/2, config.Cols/2
+	maxRadius := float64(centerRow) * 0.20 // 20% of center distance = central zone
+	centralCount := 0
+
+	for _, en := range replay.Map.EnergyNodes {
+		dr := float64(en.Row) - float64(centerRow)
+		dc := float64(en.Col) - float64(centerCol)
+		dist := math.Sqrt(dr*dr + dc*dc)
+		if dist <= maxRadius {
+			centralCount++
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Expect at least 20% in central zone (allowing some variance for randomness)
+	minCentral := int(float64(len(replay.Map.EnergyNodes)) * 0.20)
+	if centralCount < minCentral {
+		t.Errorf("expected at least %d energy nodes in central zone, got %d (total nodes: %d)",
+			minCentral, centralCount, len(replay.Map.EnergyNodes))
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("Center-weighted energy: %d/%d nodes in central zone (%.1f%%)",
+		centralCount, len(replay.Map.EnergyNodes),
+		100.0*float64(centralCount)/float64(len(replay.Map.EnergyNodes)))
+}
diff --git a/engine/match.go b/engine/match.go
index 7630cda..75964b7 100644
--- a/engine/match.go
+++ b/engine/match.go
@@ -311,10 +311,24 @@ func (mr *MatchRunner) placeEnergyNodes(gs *GameState, numPlayers int) {
 	}
 	nodesPerSector := numNodes / numPlayers
 
+	// Tiered radius distribution biases toward center to force contested energy:
+	// - 30% central (0.05-0.20): contested central zone
+	// - 40% mid (0.20-0.40): mid-zone
+	// - 30% outer (0.40-0.60): outer zone
 	for i := 0; i < nodesPerSector; i++ {
 		// Generate one position in the first sector
 		angle := mr.rng.Float64() * 2.0 * math.Pi / float64(numPlayers)
-		radius := 0.3 + mr.rng.Float64()*0.4 // 30-70% of half-size
+		// Tiered radius: bias toward center to force contested energy collection.
+		// 30% central (forces both players to midfield), 40% mid, 30% outer.
+		var radius float64
+		switch {
+		case i < nodesPerSector*3/10:
+			radius = 0.05 + mr.rng.Float64()*0.15 // 0.05–0.20: contested central zone
+		case i < nodesPerSector*7/10:
+			radius = 0.20 + mr.rng.Float64()*0.20 // 0.20–0.40: mid-zone
+		default:
+			radius = 0.40 + mr.rng.Float64()*0.20 // 0.40–0.60: outer zone
+		}
 
 		// Mirror for all players
 		for p := 0; p < numPlayers; p++ {