diff --git a/engine/match.go b/engine/match.go
index ff756b4..da472a8 100644
--- a/engine/match.go
+++ b/engine/match.go
@@ -260,26 +260,22 @@ func (mr *MatchRunner) generateMap(gs *GameState, numPlayers int) {
 	//
 	// Zone min radius: 3 for 2-player (6 tiles diameter), 1 for 3+ (2 tiles diameter)
 	// Spawn radius must be > zone_min_radius to ensure bots start outside final zone.
+	// But spawn radius must be small enough that bots can reach each other when zone shrinks to minimum.
 	//
-	// Calculate spawn radius in tiles, then convert to percentage of grid half-size:
-	// - 2-player: spawn at 10 tiles from center (well outside zone_min_radius=3)
-	// - 3+ player: spawn at 8 tiles from center (well outside zone_min_radius=1)
+	// Spawn radius as percentage of grid half-size:
+	// - 2-player: 20% (~4 tiles on 40x40 grid, ~8 tiles apart)
+	// - 3+ player: 10% (~5 tiles on 50x50 grid, ~10 tiles apart)
 	// This ensures zone shrinking forces bots into attack range (6 tiles for 2p, 3.5 for 3+)
 	halfRows := float64(centerRow)
 	halfCols := float64(centerCol)
-	halfSize := math.Min(halfRows, halfCols)
 
 	var primaryRadius, secondaryRadius float64
 	if numPlayers == 2 {
-		primarySpawnDist := 10.0 // tiles from center
-		secondarySpawnDist := 7.0
-		primaryRadius = primarySpawnDist / halfSize
-		secondaryRadius = secondarySpawnDist / halfSize
+		primaryRadius = 0.25   // ~5 tiles from center on 40x40 grid
+		secondaryRadius = 0.25 // ~5 tiles from center (must be > zone_min_radius=3, accounting for int truncation)
 	} else {
-		primarySpawnDist := 8.0 // tiles from center
-		secondarySpawnDist := 6.0
-		primaryRadius = primarySpawnDist / halfSize
-		secondaryRadius = secondarySpawnDist / halfSize
+		primaryRadius = 0.10 // ~5 tiles from center on 50x50 grid
+		secondaryRadius = 0.08
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < numPlayers; i++ {