diff --git a/app/models/__tests__/auto-pick.test.ts b/app/models/__tests__/auto-pick.test.ts
index f4229f2..e1dc588 100644
--- a/app/models/__tests__/auto-pick.test.ts
+++ b/app/models/__tests__/auto-pick.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach } from "vitest";
-import { autoPickForTeam } from "../draft-utils";
+import { autoPickForTeam, pruneIneligibleQueueItems } from "../draft-utils";
 
 // Mock all external model dependencies so we can control their return values
 vi.mock("~/models/draft-pick", () => ({
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ vi.mock("~/models/season-sport", () => ({
 
 vi.mock("~/models/draft-queue", () => ({
   getTeamQueue: vi.fn(),
+  getAllQueuesForSeason: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
 vi.mock("~/lib/draft-eligibility", () => ({
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ import {
 } from "~/models/draft-pick";
 import { getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports } from "~/models/participant";
 import { getSeasonSportsSimple } from "~/models/season-sport";
-import { getTeamQueue } from "~/models/draft-queue";
+import { getTeamQueue, getAllQueuesForSeason } from "~/models/draft-queue";
 import { calculateDraftEligibility } from "~/lib/draft-eligibility";
 
 const SEASON_ID = "season-1";
@@ -217,6 +218,108 @@ describe("autoPickForTeam – queueOnly constraint (AC2 & AC3)", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("ineligible sport — only queued player's sport is full", () => {
+    it("removes the ineligible queue item and returns null when queueOnly=true", async () => {
+      // Scenario: team has a snooker player queued but snooker is already full (not in eligibleSportIds)
+      const queue = [{ id: "q-snooker", participantId: "p-snooker", queuePosition: 1 }];
+      vi.mocked(getTeamQueue).mockResolvedValue(queue as any);
+
+      // Snooker is NOT eligible — only "sport-other" is
+      vi.mocked(calculateDraftEligibility).mockReturnValue({
+        eligibleSportIds: new Set(["sport-other"]),
+      } as ReturnType<typeof calculateDraftEligibility>);
+
+      const mockDelete = vi.fn().mockReturnThis();
+      const mockWhere = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+      const mockDb = makeMockDb({
+        query: {
+          participants: {
+            findMany: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([
+              {
+                id: "p-snooker",
+                name: "Ronnie O'Sullivan",
+                sportsSeason: { sport: { id: "sport-snooker", name: "Snooker" } },
+              },
+            ]),
+          },
+        },
+        delete: mockDelete,
+        where: mockWhere,
+      });
+
+      vi.mocked(isParticipantDrafted).mockResolvedValue(false); // not drafted — ineligible due to sport
+
+      const result = await autoPickForTeam(
+        SEASON_ID,
+        TEAM_ID,
+        DRAFT_ROUNDS,
+        ALL_TEAM_IDS,
+        mockDb as any,
+        true // queueOnly — no EV fallback
+      );
+
+      // Queue item should be removed
+      expect(mockDelete).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      // No valid pick available
+      expect(result).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it("falls back to EV pick from eligible sports when queueOnly=false", async () => {
+      // Scenario: same ineligible snooker player, but queueOnly is off so system picks best available
+      const queue = [{ id: "q-snooker", participantId: "p-snooker", queuePosition: 1 }];
+      vi.mocked(getTeamQueue).mockResolvedValue(queue as any);
+
+      vi.mocked(calculateDraftEligibility).mockReturnValue({
+        eligibleSportIds: new Set(["sport-other"]),
+      } as ReturnType<typeof calculateDraftEligibility>);
+
+      // where() call order:
+      //   1. delete().where()           — remove ineligible snooker item from queue
+      //   2. select().from().where()    — getTopAvailableParticipant: drafted picks → []
+      //   3. select().from().innerJoin().innerJoin().where() — season sports → [{...}]
+      //   4. select().from(participants).where().orderBy() — participant query (chain)
+      const mockDb = {
+        query: {
+          participants: {
+            findMany: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([
+              {
+                id: "p-snooker",
+                name: "Ronnie O'Sullivan",
+                sportsSeason: { sport: { id: "sport-snooker", name: "Snooker" } },
+              },
+            ]),
+          },
+        },
+        select: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+        from: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+        innerJoin: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+        where: vi.fn()
+          .mockResolvedValueOnce(undefined)                                              // call 1: delete ineligible queue items
+          .mockResolvedValueOnce([])                                                     // call 2: drafted picks
+          .mockResolvedValueOnce([{ sportsSeasonId: "ss-other", sportId: "sport-other" }]) // call 3: season sports
+          .mockReturnThis(),                                                             // call 4: participant query → chain to orderBy
+        orderBy: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([
+          { id: "p-ev", name: "EV Player", expectedValue: "90.00" },
+        ]),
+        delete: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+      };
+
+      vi.mocked(isParticipantDrafted).mockResolvedValue(false);
+
+      const result = await autoPickForTeam(
+        SEASON_ID,
+        TEAM_ID,
+        DRAFT_ROUNDS,
+        ALL_TEAM_IDS,
+        mockDb as any,
+        false // queueOnly off — should fall back to best available
+      );
+
+      // Should pick the best available from eligible sports, not the snooker player
+      expect(result).toBe("p-ev");
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("partial queue — first item drafted, second available", () => {
     it("skips drafted item and returns the next valid participant", async () => {
       const queue = [
@@ -302,3 +405,187 @@ describe("autoPickForTeam – queueOnly constraint (AC2 & AC3)", () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe("pruneIneligibleQueueItems", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    vi.mocked(getDraftPicksWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getTeamDraftPicksWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getSeasonSportsSimple).mockResolvedValue([]);
+  });
+
+  // Helper to build the Map<teamId, queue[]> returned by getAllQueuesForSeason
+  function makeSeasonQueues(entries: [string, { id: string; participantId: string; queuePosition: number }[]][]) {
+    return new Map(entries.map(([teamId, items]) => [teamId, items as any]));
+  }
+
+  it("removes queued snooker player when snooker is no longer eligible for a team", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getDraftPicksWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports).mockResolvedValue([
+      { id: "p-snooker", name: "Ronnie O'Sullivan", sport: { id: "sport-snooker", name: "Snooker" } },
+    ] as any);
+    vi.mocked(getSeasonSportsSimple).mockResolvedValue([]);
+
+    // team-1: snooker ineligible; team-2: snooker still eligible
+    vi.mocked(calculateDraftEligibility)
+      .mockReturnValueOnce({ eligibleSportIds: new Set([]) } as any)
+      .mockReturnValueOnce({ eligibleSportIds: new Set(["sport-snooker"]) } as any);
+
+    vi.mocked(getAllQueuesForSeason).mockResolvedValue(
+      makeSeasonQueues([
+        [TEAM_ID, [{ id: "q-1", participantId: "p-snooker", queuePosition: 1 }]],
+        ["team-2", []],
+      ])
+    );
+
+    const mockDelete = vi.fn().mockReturnThis();
+    const mockWhere = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const mockDb = makeMockDb({ delete: mockDelete, where: mockWhere });
+
+    const result = await pruneIneligibleQueueItems({
+      seasonId: SEASON_ID,
+      draftRounds: DRAFT_ROUNDS,
+      allTeamIds: ALL_TEAM_IDS,
+      db: mockDb as any,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result[0].teamId).toBe(TEAM_ID);
+    expect(result[0].removedParticipantIds).toEqual(["p-snooker"]);
+    expect(mockDelete).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("returns empty array when all teams still have their sports eligible", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getDraftPicksWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports).mockResolvedValue([
+      { id: "p-snooker", name: "Ronnie O'Sullivan", sport: { id: "sport-snooker", name: "Snooker" } },
+    ] as any);
+    vi.mocked(getSeasonSportsSimple).mockResolvedValue([]);
+
+    vi.mocked(calculateDraftEligibility).mockReturnValue(
+      { eligibleSportIds: new Set(["sport-snooker"]) } as any
+    );
+
+    vi.mocked(getAllQueuesForSeason).mockResolvedValue(
+      makeSeasonQueues([
+        [TEAM_ID, [{ id: "q-1", participantId: "p-snooker", queuePosition: 1 }]],
+        ["team-2", [{ id: "q-2", participantId: "p-snooker", queuePosition: 1 }]],
+      ])
+    );
+
+    const mockDelete = vi.fn().mockReturnThis();
+    const mockDb = makeMockDb({ delete: mockDelete });
+
+    const result = await pruneIneligibleQueueItems({
+      seasonId: SEASON_ID,
+      draftRounds: DRAFT_ROUNDS,
+      allTeamIds: ALL_TEAM_IDS,
+      db: mockDb as any,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(mockDelete).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("skips teams with empty queues and does not call delete", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getDraftPicksWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getSeasonSportsSimple).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(calculateDraftEligibility).mockReturnValue(
+      { eligibleSportIds: new Set([]) } as any
+    );
+
+    // Both teams return no queue items from the single bulk fetch
+    vi.mocked(getAllQueuesForSeason).mockResolvedValue(new Map());
+
+    const mockDelete = vi.fn().mockReturnThis();
+    const mockDb = makeMockDb({ delete: mockDelete });
+
+    const result = await pruneIneligibleQueueItems({
+      seasonId: SEASON_ID,
+      draftRounds: DRAFT_ROUNDS,
+      allTeamIds: ALL_TEAM_IDS,
+      db: mockDb as any,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(mockDelete).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    // The bulk fetch replaces per-team queries — getTeamQueue should never be called
+    expect(vi.mocked(getTeamQueue)).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("prunes only the ineligible items when a team has a mixed queue", async () => {
+    // Team has two queued players: snooker (ineligible) and NFL (still eligible)
+    vi.mocked(getDraftPicksWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports).mockResolvedValue([
+      { id: "p-snooker", name: "Ronnie O'Sullivan", sport: { id: "sport-snooker", name: "Snooker" } },
+      { id: "p-nfl", name: "Patrick Mahomes", sport: { id: "sport-nfl", name: "NFL" } },
+    ] as any);
+    vi.mocked(getSeasonSportsSimple).mockResolvedValue([]);
+
+    vi.mocked(calculateDraftEligibility).mockReturnValue(
+      { eligibleSportIds: new Set(["sport-nfl"]) } as any  // snooker full, NFL still ok
+    );
+
+    vi.mocked(getAllQueuesForSeason).mockResolvedValue(
+      makeSeasonQueues([
+        [TEAM_ID, [
+          { id: "q-snooker", participantId: "p-snooker", queuePosition: 1 },
+          { id: "q-nfl",    participantId: "p-nfl",    queuePosition: 2 },
+        ]],
+      ])
+    );
+
+    const mockDelete = vi.fn().mockReturnThis();
+    const mockWhere = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const mockDb = makeMockDb({ delete: mockDelete, where: mockWhere });
+
+    const result = await pruneIneligibleQueueItems({
+      seasonId: SEASON_ID,
+      draftRounds: DRAFT_ROUNDS,
+      allTeamIds: [TEAM_ID],
+      db: mockDb as any,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result[0].removedParticipantIds).toEqual(["p-snooker"]);
+    // The NFL player must NOT be removed
+    expect(result[0].removedParticipantIds).not.toContain("p-nfl");
+    expect(mockDelete).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("skips a queue item whose participant is not found in season sports and logs a warning", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getDraftPicksWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    // allParticipants does NOT include p-mystery
+    vi.mocked(getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(getSeasonSportsSimple).mockResolvedValue([]);
+    vi.mocked(calculateDraftEligibility).mockReturnValue(
+      { eligibleSportIds: new Set([]) } as any
+    );
+
+    vi.mocked(getAllQueuesForSeason).mockResolvedValue(
+      makeSeasonQueues([
+        [TEAM_ID, [{ id: "q-mystery", participantId: "p-mystery", queuePosition: 1 }]],
+      ])
+    );
+
+    const mockDelete = vi.fn().mockReturnThis();
+    const mockDb = makeMockDb({ delete: mockDelete });
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, "warn").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    const result = await pruneIneligibleQueueItems({
+      seasonId: SEASON_ID,
+      draftRounds: DRAFT_ROUNDS,
+      allTeamIds: [TEAM_ID],
+      db: mockDb as any,
+    });
+
+    // Item is skipped — not deleted, not returned
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(mockDelete).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("p-mystery"));
+
+    warnSpy.mockRestore();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/models/draft-queue.ts b/app/models/draft-queue.ts
index 6d947c7..58b062b 100644
--- a/app/models/draft-queue.ts
+++ b/app/models/draft-queue.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,29 @@ export async function removeParticipantFromQueue(teamId: string, participantId:
     );
 }
 
+export async function getAllQueuesForSeason(
+  seasonId: string,
+  providedDb?: ReturnType<typeof database>
+): Promise<Map<string, typeof schema.draftQueue.$inferSelect[]>> {
+  const db = providedDb || database();
+  const rows = await db
+    .select()
+    .from(schema.draftQueue)
+    .where(eq(schema.draftQueue.seasonId, seasonId))
+    .orderBy(asc(schema.draftQueue.queuePosition));
+
+  const byTeam = new Map<string, typeof schema.draftQueue.$inferSelect[]>();
+  for (const row of rows) {
+    const existing = byTeam.get(row.teamId);
+    if (existing) {
+      existing.push(row);
+    } else {
+      byTeam.set(row.teamId, [row]);
+    }
+  }
+  return byTeam;
+}
+
 export async function clearAllQueuesForSeason(seasonId: string) {
   const db = database();
   await db
diff --git a/app/models/draft-utils.ts b/app/models/draft-utils.ts
index 520e1ad..22cde54 100644
--- a/app/models/draft-utils.ts
+++ b/app/models/draft-utils.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { database } from "~/database/context";
 import * as schema from "~/database/schema";
 import { eq, and, notInArray, desc, inArray, sql, asc } from "drizzle-orm";
 import type { InferSelectModel } from "drizzle-orm";
-import { getTeamQueue } from "./draft-queue";
+import { getTeamQueue, getAllQueuesForSeason } from "./draft-queue";
 import { isParticipantDrafted, getDraftPicksWithSports, getTeamDraftPicksWithSports } from "./draft-pick";
 import { getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports } from "./participant";
 import { getSeasonSportsSimple } from "./season-sport";
@@ -354,6 +354,85 @@ export function getTeamForPick(
   return sortedOrder[teamIndex]?.teamId || null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * After a pick is committed, recalculate draft eligibility for every team and remove
+ * any queued participants whose sport is no longer eligible for that team.
+ *
+ * This handles cases like: a team has a snooker player queued but has now filled their
+ * last flex slot that snooker could have used — the pick should be proactively removed
+ * rather than silently failing or pausing the draft later.
+ *
+ * Returns the per-team removals so the caller can emit socket events.
+ */
+export async function pruneIneligibleQueueItems(params: {
+  seasonId: string;
+  draftRounds: number;
+  allTeamIds: string[];
+  db: ReturnType<typeof database>;
+}): Promise<{ teamId: string; removedParticipantIds: string[] }[]> {
+  const { seasonId, draftRounds, allTeamIds, db } = params;
+
+  const [allPicks, allParticipants, seasonSports, allQueues] = await Promise.all([
+    getDraftPicksWithSports(seasonId, db),
+    getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports(seasonId, db),
+    getSeasonSportsSimple(seasonId, db),
+    getAllQueuesForSeason(seasonId, db),
+  ]);
+
+  // Build a fast lookup: participantId → sportId
+  const participantSportMap = new Map<string, string>();
+  for (const p of allParticipants) {
+    participantSportMap.set(p.id, p.sport.id);
+  }
+
+  const allTeams = allTeamIds.map((id) => ({ id }));
+  const results: { teamId: string; removedParticipantIds: string[] }[] = [];
+
+  for (const teamId of allTeamIds) {
+    const queue = allQueues.get(teamId) ?? [];
+    if (queue.length === 0) continue;
+
+    const teamPicks = allPicks.filter((p) => p.teamId === teamId);
+    const eligibility = calculateDraftEligibility(
+      teamId,
+      teamPicks,
+      allPicks,
+      allParticipants,
+      seasonSports,
+      draftRounds,
+      allTeams
+    );
+
+    const ineligible: { id: string; participantId: string }[] = [];
+    for (const item of queue) {
+      const sportId = participantSportMap.get(item.participantId);
+      if (sportId === undefined) {
+        console.warn(
+          `[QueuePrune] Team ${teamId}: queue item ${item.id} references participant ${item.participantId} not found in season sports — skipping`
+        );
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (!eligibility.eligibleSportIds.has(sportId)) {
+        ineligible.push({ id: item.id, participantId: item.participantId });
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (ineligible.length > 0) {
+      await db
+        .delete(schema.draftQueue)
+        .where(inArray(schema.draftQueue.id, ineligible.map((i) => i.id)));
+
+      const removedParticipantIds = ineligible.map((i) => i.participantId);
+      results.push({ teamId, removedParticipantIds });
+      console.log(
+        `[QueuePrune] Team ${teamId}: removed ${ineligible.length} ineligible items (sport no longer eligible)`
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  return results;
+}
+
 /**
  * Execute an autopick for a team - unified function for both commissioner-forced and timer-based autopicks
  *
@@ -618,6 +697,26 @@ export async function executeAutoPick(params: {
         )
       );
 
+    // Proactively prune queue items that are now ineligible due to this pick
+    // (e.g. a team queued a snooker player but just filled their last flex slot)
+    try {
+      const prunedQueues = await pruneIneligibleQueueItems({
+        seasonId,
+        draftRounds: season.draftRounds,
+        allTeamIds,
+        db,
+      });
+      const io = getSocketIO();
+      for (const { teamId: prunedTeamId, removedParticipantIds } of prunedQueues) {
+        io.to(`draft-${seasonId}`).emit("queue-eligibility-pruned", {
+          teamId: prunedTeamId,
+          removedParticipantIds,
+        });
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("[AutoPick] Error pruning ineligible queue items:", error);
+    }
+
     // Handle autodraft settings for timer-based picks with "next_pick" mode
     if (triggeredBy === "timer" && autodraftSettings?.isEnabled && autodraftSettings.mode === "next_pick") {
       console.log(`[AutoPick] Disabling autodraft for team ${teamId} after next_pick`);
diff --git a/app/routes/api/draft.make-pick.ts b/app/routes/api/draft.make-pick.ts
index 1c66928..95492cb 100644
--- a/app/routes/api/draft.make-pick.ts
+++ b/app/routes/api/draft.make-pick.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { calculateDraftEligibility } from "~/lib/draft-eligibility";
 import { getDraftPicksWithSports, getTeamDraftPicksWithSports } from "~/models/draft-pick";
 import { getParticipantsForSeasonWithSports } from "~/models/participant";
 import { getSeasonSportsSimple } from "~/models/season-sport";
-import { calculatePickInfo, checkAndTriggerNextAutodraft } from "~/models/draft-utils";
+import { calculatePickInfo, checkAndTriggerNextAutodraft, pruneIneligibleQueueItems } from "~/models/draft-utils";
 import { getSocketIO } from "../../../server/socket";
 
 import type { ActionFunctionArgs } from "react-router";
@@ -173,6 +173,26 @@ export async function action(args: ActionFunctionArgs) {
     console.error("Socket.IO participant-removed-from-queues error:", error);
   }
 
+  // Proactively prune queue items that are now ineligible due to this pick
+  // (e.g. a team queued a snooker player but just filled their last flex slot)
+  try {
+    const allTeamIds = draftSlots.map((slot) => slot.teamId);
+    const prunedQueues = await pruneIneligibleQueueItems({
+      seasonId,
+      draftRounds: season.draftRounds,
+      allTeamIds,
+      db,
+    });
+    for (const { teamId: prunedTeamId, removedParticipantIds } of prunedQueues) {
+      getSocketIO().to(`draft-${seasonId}`).emit("queue-eligibility-pruned", {
+        teamId: prunedTeamId,
+        removedParticipantIds,
+      });
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error("Queue pruning error after pick:", error);
+  }
+
   // Calculate next pick info (before updating season)
   const nextPickNumber = currentPickNumber + 1;
   const totalPicks = totalTeams * season.draftRounds;
diff --git a/app/routes/leagues/$leagueId.draft.$seasonId.tsx b/app/routes/leagues/$leagueId.draft.$seasonId.tsx
index 77f985f..6996398 100644
--- a/app/routes/leagues/$leagueId.draft.$seasonId.tsx
+++ b/app/routes/leagues/$leagueId.draft.$seasonId.tsx
@@ -787,6 +787,12 @@ export default function DraftRoom() {
       );
     };
 
+    const handleQueueEligibilityPruned = (data: { teamId: string; removedParticipantIds: string[] }) => {
+      if (data.teamId !== userTeam?.id) return;
+      const removed = new Set(data.removedParticipantIds);
+      setQueue((prev: any) => prev.filter((item: any) => !removed.has(item.participantId)));
+    };
+
     const handlePickReplaced = (data: any) => {
       setPicks((prev: any) =>
         prev.map((p: any) => (p.pickNumber === data.pickNumber ? data.pick : p))
@@ -839,6 +845,7 @@ export default function DraftRoom() {
     on("team-disconnected", handleTeamDisconnected);
     on("connected-teams-list", handleConnectedTeamsList);
     on("participant-removed-from-queues", handleParticipantRemovedFromQueues);
+    on("queue-eligibility-pruned", handleQueueEligibilityPruned);
     on("pick-replaced", handlePickReplaced);
     on("draft-rolled-back", handleDraftRolledBack);
     on("draft-state-sync", handleDraftStateSync);
@@ -854,6 +861,7 @@ export default function DraftRoom() {
       off("team-disconnected", handleTeamDisconnected);
       off("connected-teams-list", handleConnectedTeamsList);
       off("participant-removed-from-queues", handleParticipantRemovedFromQueues);
+      off("queue-eligibility-pruned", handleQueueEligibilityPruned);
       off("pick-replaced", handlePickReplaced);
       off("draft-rolled-back", handleDraftRolledBack);
       off("draft-state-sync", handleDraftStateSync);