diff --git a/contracts/escrow/src/errors.rs b/contracts/escrow/src/errors.rs
index fb67ccb..c63e0cc 100644
--- a/contracts/escrow/src/errors.rs
+++ b/contracts/escrow/src/errors.rs
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ pub enum Error {
     ContractPaused = 9,
     InvalidAmount = 10,
     MatchAlreadyActive = 11,
+    MatchNotExpired = 12,
 }
diff --git a/contracts/escrow/src/lib.rs b/contracts/escrow/src/lib.rs
index 27af3a2..426cf58 100644
--- a/contracts/escrow/src/lib.rs
+++ b/contracts/escrow/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ use types::{DataKey, Match, MatchState, Platform, Winner};
 /// ~30 days at 5s/ledger. Used as both the TTL threshold and the extend-to value.
 const MATCH_TTL_LEDGERS: u32 = 518_400;
 
+/// Default match expiry timeout (~24 hours at 5s/ledger).
+const DEFAULT_MATCH_TIMEOUT_LEDGERS: u32 = 17_280;
+
 #[contract]
 pub struct EscrowContract;
 
@@ -333,6 +336,60 @@ impl EscrowContract {
         let deposited = m.player1_deposited as i128 + m.player2_deposited as i128;
         Ok(deposited * m.stake_amount)
     }
+
+    /// Cancel a Pending match that has exceeded the configurable ledger timeout,
+    /// refunding any deposited stakes. Anyone may call this once the timeout elapses.
+    pub fn expire_match(env: Env, match_id: u64) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let mut m: Match = env
+            .storage()
+            .persistent()
+            .get(&DataKey::Match(match_id))
+            .ok_or(Error::MatchNotFound)?;
+
+        if m.state != MatchState::Pending {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidState);
+        }
+
+        let timeout: u32 = env
+            .storage()
+            .instance()
+            .get(&DataKey::MatchTimeout)
+            .unwrap_or(DEFAULT_MATCH_TIMEOUT_LEDGERS);
+
+        let elapsed = env
+            .ledger()
+            .sequence()
+            .saturating_sub(m.created_ledger);
+
+        if elapsed < timeout {
+            return Err(Error::MatchNotExpired);
+        }
+
+        let client = token::Client::new(&env, &m.token);
+        if m.player1_deposited {
+            client.transfer(&env.current_contract_address(), &m.player1, &m.stake_amount);
+        }
+        if m.player2_deposited {
+            client.transfer(&env.current_contract_address(), &m.player2, &m.stake_amount);
+        }
+
+        m.state = MatchState::Cancelled;
+        env.storage()
+            .persistent()
+            .set(&DataKey::Match(match_id), &m);
+        env.storage().persistent().extend_ttl(
+            &DataKey::Match(match_id),
+            MATCH_TTL_LEDGERS,
+            MATCH_TTL_LEDGERS,
+        );
+
+        env.events().publish(
+            (Symbol::new(&env, "match"), symbol_short!("expired")),
+            match_id,
+        );
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/contracts/escrow/src/tests.rs b/contracts/escrow/src/tests.rs
index e3b3eb2..5c3b3a4 100644
--- a/contracts/escrow/src/tests.rs
+++ b/contracts/escrow/src/tests.rs
@@ -935,6 +935,48 @@ fn test_escrow_balance_zero_after_draw() {
 }
 
 #[test]
+<<<<<<< fix/match-expiry-timeout
+fn test_expire_match_refunds_depositor_after_timeout() {
+    let (env, contract_id, _oracle, player1, player2, token, _admin) = setup();
+    let client = EscrowContractClient::new(&env, &contract_id);
+
+    env.ledger().set_sequence_number(100);
+
+    let id = client.create_match(
+        &player1,
+        &player2,
+        &100,
+        &token,
+        &String::from_str(&env, "expire_game"),
+        &Platform::Lichess,
+    );
+
+    // Only player1 deposits
+    client.deposit(&id, &player1);
+
+    let p1_balance_before = token::Client::new(&env, &token).balance(&player1);
+
+    // Advance ledger past the default timeout (17_280 ledgers)
+    env.ledger().set_sequence_number(100 + 17_280);
+
+    client.expire_match(&id);
+
+    let m = client.get_match(&id);
+    assert_eq!(m.state, MatchState::Cancelled);
+
+    // player1 should have their stake back
+    let p1_balance_after = token::Client::new(&env, &token).balance(&player1);
+    assert_eq!(p1_balance_after - p1_balance_before, 100);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_expire_match_fails_before_timeout() {
+    let (env, contract_id, _oracle, player1, player2, token, _admin) = setup();
+    let client = EscrowContractClient::new(&env, &contract_id);
+
+    env.ledger().set_sequence_number(100);
+
+=======
 fn test_get_oracle_returns_initialized_address() {
     let (env, contract_id, oracle, _player1, _player2, _token, _admin) = setup();
     let client = EscrowContractClient::new(&env, &contract_id);
@@ -946,11 +988,25 @@ fn test_get_match_returns_correct_players() {
     let (env, contract_id, _oracle, player1, player2, token, _admin) = setup();
     let client = EscrowContractClient::new(&env, &contract_id);
 
+>>>>>>> main
     let id = client.create_match(
         &player1,
         &player2,
         &100,
         &token,
+<<<<<<< fix/match-expiry-timeout
+        &String::from_str(&env, "early_expire"),
+        &Platform::Lichess,
+    );
+
+    client.deposit(&id, &player1);
+
+    // Not enough ledgers have passed
+    env.ledger().set_sequence_number(100 + 100);
+
+    let result = client.try_expire_match(&id);
+    assert_eq!(result, Err(Ok(Error::MatchNotExpired)));
+=======
         &String::from_str(&env, "players_test"),
         &Platform::Lichess,
     );
@@ -958,4 +1014,5 @@ fn test_get_match_returns_correct_players() {
     let m = client.get_match(&id);
     assert_eq!(m.player1, player1);
     assert_eq!(m.player2, player2);
+>>>>>>> main
 }
diff --git a/contracts/escrow/src/types.rs b/contracts/escrow/src/types.rs
index ca40751..c8f8c41 100644
--- a/contracts/escrow/src/types.rs
+++ b/contracts/escrow/src/types.rs
@@ -47,4 +47,5 @@ pub enum DataKey {
     Oracle,
     Admin,
     Paused,
+    MatchTimeout,
 }