diff --git a/app/services/simulations/__tests__/darts-simulator.test.ts b/app/services/simulations/__tests__/darts-simulator.test.ts
index 804ba8e..1df59e7 100644
--- a/app/services/simulations/__tests__/darts-simulator.test.ts
+++ b/app/services/simulations/__tests__/darts-simulator.test.ts
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ describe("DartsSimulator.simulate() — Path B (pre-bracket)", () => {
   function makeEVRowsWithRankings() {
     return SEASON_PARTICIPANTS.map((p, i) => ({
       participantId: p.id,
-      sourceElo: ELO_BASE - i * 2, // higher seed = higher Elo
+      sourceElo: ELO_BASE - i * 100, // higher seed = higher Elo; large gap needed for reliable MC ordering
       worldRanking: i + 1,
     }));
   }
diff --git a/app/services/simulations/__tests__/world-cup-simulator.test.ts b/app/services/simulations/__tests__/world-cup-simulator.test.ts
index 66991d6..6fc3602 100644
--- a/app/services/simulations/__tests__/world-cup-simulator.test.ts
+++ b/app/services/simulations/__tests__/world-cup-simulator.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from "vitest";
 import { simGroupMatch, WorldCupSimulator } from "../world-cup-simulator";
 
+vi.mock("~/lib/logger", () => ({
+  logger: { warn: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn(), debug: vi.fn() },
+}));
+
 // ─── Pure math: simGroupMatch ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 describe("simGroupMatch", () => {