diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7f09a4c..12b2d2d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ See [Plugin releases](docs/plugin-releases.md) for the import and beta workflow.
 
 Betas support configurable gameplay, participation, stability and manual-review
 requirements, saved presets, coverage rules and staged rollout. See
-[Beta test plans](docs/beta-test-plans.md) for usage and the three-event game telemetry contract.
+[Beta test plans](docs/beta-test-plans.md) for usage and the four-event game telemetry contract.
 
 File changes are staged sequentially. Their activation uses rolling restarts:
 by default only **one server across the fleet** can restart or recover at a
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ The server script sends JSON to `POST /api/telemetry`:
 
 - `game_start`: server, map, and all players (name and GUID).
 - `round_change`: server, map, round, and all players with kills, headshots, downs, revives, and score.
+- `heartbeat`: the same fields as round change, sent periodically during a round to refresh player stats.
 - `game_end`: the same fields as round change, with final stats.
 
 These reports work with or without an active beta. Electric Cherry records
diff --git a/docs/beta-test-plans.md b/docs/beta-test-plans.md
index 1e07377..37d9dc7 100644
--- a/docs/beta-test-plans.md
+++ b/docs/beta-test-plans.md
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ beta on that server.
 ## Game reporter protocol
 
 Send JSON to `POST /api/telemetry` with `Content-Type: application/json`.
-There are exactly three events. Send them whether or not a beta is active.
+There are four events. Send them whether or not a beta is active.
 
 | Event | Fields |
 | --- | --- |
 | `game_start` | `server`, `map`, `players` with each player's `name` and `guid` |
 | `round_change` | `server`, `map`, `round`, `players` with each player's `name`, `guid`, `kills`, `headshots`, `downs`, `revives`, and `score` |
+| `heartbeat` | Same fields as `round_change`; sent periodically during a round to refresh the current round and player stats |
 | `game_end` | `server`, `map`, `round`, `players` with each player's `name`, `guid`, `kills`, `headshots`, `downs`, `revives`, and `score` |
 
 `server` is the exact registered Electric Cherry server name. `map` is the
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ of beta activity. That page documents cumulative stat accounting, round credit,
 and the limits of identifying matches from this protocol.
 
 The game scripts are uploaded artifacts, not source maintained in this
-repository. Their reporter should emit the three payloads above.
+repository. Their reporter should emit the four payloads above.
 
 ### Telemetry diagnostics
 
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ Requirements on a qualifying server are ANDed:
 
 | Requirement | Evidence |
 | --- | --- |
-| Reach round X | A round change or game end reports round >= X with the required player count |
+| Reach round X | A round change, heartbeat, or game end reports round >= X with the required player count |
 | Complete qualifying matches | Game end, optionally qualified by round, player count, and duration |
 | Populated minutes | Time between consecutive game reports with enough players at both ends |
 | Player-hours | Populated minutes multiplied by the lower reported player count, divided by 60 |
diff --git a/src/lib/beta-evidence.ts b/src/lib/beta-evidence.ts
index 7cb37b7..a107eff 100644
--- a/src/lib/beta-evidence.ts
+++ b/src/lib/beta-evidence.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export function betaWaitingCondition(requirement: BetaRequirement, observation?:
         if (requirement.kind === 'matches') return requirement.minMinutes && !observation.matchStarted
             ? 'This match has no game-start report, so its duration cannot qualify. Waiting for a new game start and game end.'
             : `Waiting for game end${requirement.minRound ? ` after reaching round ${requirement.minRound}` : ''} with ${players}${requirement.minMinutes ? ` and at least ${requirement.minMinutes} minutes since game start` : ''}.`;
-        if (requirement.kind === 'round') return `Waiting for a round change or game end reporting round ${requirement.target} or higher with ${players}.`;
+        if (requirement.kind === 'round') return `Waiting for a round change, heartbeat, or game end reporting round ${requirement.target} or higher with ${players}.`;
         return `Time is credited when the next report arrives, with ${players} at both ends of the interval. It does not advance continuously between reports.`;
     }
     return 'Waiting for qualifying evidence.';
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ export function betaEvidenceSummary(event: BetaTestView['evidence'][number]): st
     let payload: Record<string, unknown>;
     try { payload = JSON.parse(event.payload); } catch { return event.kind.replaceAll('-', ' ').replaceAll('_', ' '); }
     if (!payload || typeof payload !== 'object') return event.kind;
-    if (['game_start', 'round_change', 'game_end'].includes(event.kind)) {
-        const label = event.kind === 'game_start' ? 'Game started' : event.kind === 'game_end' ? 'Game ended' : 'Round changed';
+    if (['game_start', 'round_change', 'heartbeat', 'game_end'].includes(event.kind)) {
+        const label = event.kind === 'game_start' ? 'Game started' : event.kind === 'game_end' ? 'Game ended' : event.kind === 'heartbeat' ? 'Heartbeat' : 'Round changed';
         return `${label}${typeof payload.round === 'number' ? ` at round ${payload.round}` : ''}${Array.isArray(payload.players) ? ` with ${payload.players.length} players` : ''}${typeof payload.map === 'string' ? ` on ${payload.map}` : ''}.`;
     }
     if (event.kind === 'manual-sign-off') return `${payload.requirement ?? 'Checklist'}: ${payload.note ?? 'Signed off'}`;
diff --git a/src/lib/fleet-overview.ts b/src/lib/fleet-overview.ts
index d128466..e3e7d74 100644
--- a/src/lib/fleet-overview.ts
+++ b/src/lib/fleet-overview.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export function fleetIdentity(server: FleetServer) {
 }
 
 export function currentRound(server: FleetServer, report: GameTelemetry | undefined, now: number): number | null {
-    if (!report || report.event !== 'round_change' || !freshServer(server, now) || !server.active_since || !server.game_started_at
+    if (!report || (report.event !== 'round_change' && report.event !== 'heartbeat') || !freshServer(server, now) || !server.active_since || !server.game_started_at
         || server.game_ended_at || (server.last_players ?? 0) === 0) return null;
     const received = Date.parse(report.receivedAt);
     const age = now - received;
diff --git a/src/lib/server/fleet/beta-tests.ts b/src/lib/server/fleet/beta-tests.ts
index 07e72f4..2044ba8 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/fleet/beta-tests.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/fleet/beta-tests.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export function testView(betaId: number): BetaTestView | null {
         servers: runs.map(run => {
             const metrics = readMetrics(run);
             const progress = evaluateRequirements(plan, metrics, run.phase);
-            const latest = db().prepare("SELECT received_at, kind, payload FROM beta_test_evidence WHERE run_id = ? AND kind IN ('game_start','round_change','game_end') ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1").get(run.id) as { received_at: string; kind: string; payload: string } | undefined;
+            const latest = db().prepare("SELECT received_at, kind, payload FROM beta_test_evidence WHERE run_id = ? AND kind IN ('game_start','round_change','heartbeat','game_end') ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1").get(run.id) as { received_at: string; kind: string; payload: string } | undefined;
             const event = latest ? JSON.parse(latest.payload) : null;
             return { server: run.server, phase: run.phase, passed: progress.every(r => r.passed), progress, observingAt: run.observing_at,
                 observation: { lastGameplayAt: latest?.received_at ?? null, lastEvent: latest?.kind ?? null,
diff --git a/src/lib/server/fleet/leaderboard-ingest.ts b/src/lib/server/fleet/leaderboard-ingest.ts
index b4cf413..05cd61f 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/fleet/leaderboard-ingest.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/fleet/leaderboard-ingest.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export function recordLeaderboardTelemetry(handle: Database.Database, report: Ga
     const newMatch = !match || match.map_key !== identity.key
         || (isStart && (match.status !== 'active' || match.last_event !== 'game_start'))
         || (!isStart && round < match.highest_round)
-        || (report.event === 'round_change' && match.status !== 'active');
+        || ((report.event === 'round_change' || report.event === 'heartbeat') && match.status !== 'active');
 
     if (newMatch) {
         if (match?.status === 'active') {
diff --git a/src/lib/telemetry.ts b/src/lib/telemetry.ts
index 58cc6b8..c987b9c 100644
--- a/src/lib/telemetry.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telemetry.ts
@@ -13,16 +13,16 @@ export interface TelemetryPlayerStats extends TelemetryPlayer {
 
 export type GameEvent = { server: string; map: string } & (
     | { event: 'game_start'; players: TelemetryPlayer[] }
-    | { event: 'round_change' | 'game_end'; round: number; players: TelemetryPlayerStats[] }
+    | { event: 'round_change' | 'heartbeat' | 'game_end'; round: number; players: TelemetryPlayerStats[] }
 );
 
 export type GameTelemetry = GameEvent & { receivedAt: string };
 
-/** Validate the three script payloads; beta state is never part of the protocol. */
+/** Validate the four script payloads; beta state is never part of the protocol. */
 export function parseGameEvent(value: unknown): GameEvent {
     if (!value || typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) throw new Error('Payload must be a JSON object');
     const body = value as Record<string, unknown>;
-    if (!['game_start', 'round_change', 'game_end'].includes(String(body.event))) throw new Error('event must be game_start, round_change, or game_end');
+    if (!['game_start', 'round_change', 'heartbeat', 'game_end'].includes(String(body.event))) throw new Error('event must be game_start, round_change, heartbeat, or game_end');
     for (const key of ['server', 'map'] as const) {
         if (typeof body[key] !== 'string' || !body[key].trim() || body[key].length > 255) throw new Error(`${key} must be a nonempty string (up to 255 characters)`);
     }
@@ -48,5 +48,5 @@ export function parseGameEvent(value: unknown): GameEvent {
     const common = { server: body.server as string, map: body.map as string };
     if (body.event === 'game_start') return { ...common, event: 'game_start', players };
     if (!Number.isSafeInteger(body.round) || (body.round as number) < 0) throw new Error('round must be a nonnegative integer');
-    return { ...common, event: body.event as 'round_change' | 'game_end', round: body.round as number, players: players as TelemetryPlayerStats[] };
+    return { ...common, event: body.event as 'round_change' | 'heartbeat' | 'game_end', round: body.round as number, players: players as TelemetryPlayerStats[] };
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/components/BetaTestProgress.svelte b/src/lib/ui/components/BetaTestProgress.svelte
index c27c073..00f7d9a 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/components/BetaTestProgress.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/components/BetaTestProgress.svelte
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     const expired = $derived(test.outcome === 'inconclusive' || (!!deadline && test.outcome !== 'passed' && Date.parse(deadline) <= Date.now()));
     const ranked = $derived([...test.servers].sort((a,b) => (a.progress.some(r => r.failed) ? 0 : a.passed ? 2 : 1) - (b.progress.some(r => r.failed) ? 0 : b.passed ? 2 : 1) || a.server.localeCompare(b.server)));
     const filteredEvidence = $derived(test.evidence.filter(event => (!evidenceServer || event.server === evidenceServer)
-        && (!evidenceKind || (evidenceKind === 'gameplay' ? ['game_start','round_change','game_end'].includes(event.kind) : evidenceKind === 'health' ? ['health','status-sample'].includes(event.kind) : event.kind === evidenceKind))
+        && (!evidenceKind || (evidenceKind === 'gameplay' ? ['game_start','round_change','heartbeat','game_end'].includes(event.kind) : evidenceKind === 'health' ? ['health','status-sample'].includes(event.kind) : event.kind === evidenceKind))
         && (!evidenceQuery || `${betaEvidenceSummary(event)} ${event.payload}`.toLowerCase().includes(evidenceQuery.toLowerCase()))));
     $effect(() => { evidenceServer; evidenceKind; evidenceQuery; evidenceLimit = 25; });
     function reportAge(at:string) { const minutes=Math.max(0,Math.floor((Date.now()-Date.parse(at))/60000));return minutes<1?'less than a minute ago':minutes<60?`${minutes}m ago`:`${Math.floor(minutes/60)}h ${minutes%60}m ago`; }
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/components/PlayerScoreboard.svelte b/src/lib/ui/components/PlayerScoreboard.svelte
index 7632719..88a05eb 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/components/PlayerScoreboard.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/components/PlayerScoreboard.svelte
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
         </div>
     {/if}
     <div class="scoreboard-footer">
-        <p class="note">{report.event === 'game_start' ? 'Player stats arrive with the next round report.' : report.event === 'game_end' ? 'Final stats from this game. The scoreboard resets when the next game starts.' : 'Stats update at each round change and game end.'}</p>
+        <p class="note">{report.event === 'game_start' ? 'Player stats arrive with the next round report or heartbeat.' : report.event === 'game_end' ? 'Final stats from this game. The scoreboard resets when the next game starts.' : 'Stats update at each round change, heartbeat, and game end.'}</p>
         <a href="/leaderboard">View lifetime leaderboard →</a>
     </div>
 {/if}
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/components/RoundTelemetry.svelte b/src/lib/ui/components/RoundTelemetry.svelte
index 3f90751..217693e 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/components/RoundTelemetry.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/components/RoundTelemetry.svelte
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
         && (!since || Date.parse(report.receivedAt) >= Date.parse(since)));
 </script>
 
-{#if report && report.event === 'round_change' && fresh}
+{#if report && (report.event === 'round_change' || report.event === 'heartbeat') && fresh}
     <div class="round" aria-live="polite">
         <strong>Round {report.round}</strong>
         <span title={report.receivedAt}>Last reported {elapsedSince(report.receivedAt, $uiNow)} ago · {report.players.length} players</span>
diff --git a/tests/unit/beta-evaluation.test.ts b/tests/unit/beta-evaluation.test.ts
index 1362e30..6997989 100644
--- a/tests/unit/beta-evaluation.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/beta-evaluation.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,18 @@ import { gameEvent } from '../helpers/telemetry.js';
 const planWith = (...kinds: Parameters<typeof requirement>[0][]): BetaPlan => ({ ...defaultPlan(), requirements: kinds.map((k, i) => requirement(k, `r${i}`)) });
 
 describe('beta requirement evaluation', () => {
+    it('credits heartbeat participation during a long round without completing a match', () => {
+        const plan = planWith('populated-minutes', 'round', 'matches');
+        const m = emptyMetrics();
+        applyGameEvent(plan, m, gameEvent('game_start'), 0);
+        applyGameEvent(plan, m, gameEvent('round_change', 30), 60_000);
+        applyGameEvent(plan, m, gameEvent('heartbeat', 30), 120_000);
+        applyGameEvent(plan, m, gameEvent('heartbeat', 30), 180_000);
+        expect(m.values).toMatchObject({ r0: 3, r1: 30 });
+        expect(m.values.r2 ?? 0).toBe(0);
+        expect(m.match).toMatchObject({ started: 0, lastEvent: 180_000, ended: false });
+    });
+
     it('copies reactive presets without mutating saved requirements', () => {
         const source = defaultPlan();
         const selected = parseBetaPlan(new Proxy(source, {}));
diff --git a/tests/unit/fleet-overview.test.ts b/tests/unit/fleet-overview.test.ts
index 6971740..685c7db 100644
--- a/tests/unit/fleet-overview.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/fleet-overview.test.ts
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ describe('Fleet discovery and match freshness', () => {
         expect(matchesFleet(server, '', 'attention', '', [], [{ ...operation, state: 'attention' }], now)).toBe(true);
         expect(matchesFleet({ ...server, health: 'starting' }, '', 'attention', '', [], [], now)).toBe(false);
     });
-    it('only spotlights fresh telemetry from the current occupied match', () => {
-        const report = { ...gameEvent('round_change', 38, 4, server.name), receivedAt: iso(-1000) };
+    it.each(['round_change', 'heartbeat'] as const)('only spotlights fresh %s telemetry from the current occupied match', (event) => {
+        const report = { ...gameEvent(event, 38, 4, server.name), receivedAt: iso(-1000) };
         expect(currentRound(server, report, now)).toBe(38);
         for (const change of [{ receivedAt: iso(-121_000) }, { receivedAt: iso(-61_000) }, { receivedAt: iso(60_000) }]) {
             expect(currentRound(server, { ...report, ...change }, now)).toBeNull();
diff --git a/tests/unit/leaderboard-ingest.test.ts b/tests/unit/leaderboard-ingest.test.ts
index ed092ed..0d13a8b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/leaderboard-ingest.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/leaderboard-ingest.test.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,18 @@ async function records(guid = '2741626') {
     }>;
 }
 
+it('refreshes stats during a round without adding rounds or completing the match', async () => {
+    await report('game_start');
+    await report('round_change', 30, [player(undefined, { kills: 100 })]);
+    await report('heartbeat', 30, [player(undefined, { kills: 150 })]);
+    await report('heartbeat', 30, [player(undefined, { kills: 150 })]);
+    expect(await matches()).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ status: 'active', highest_round: 30 })]);
+    expect(await records()).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ kills: 150, rounds_survived: 29, completed: 0 })]);
+    await report('game_end', 30);
+    await report('heartbeat', 30);
+    expect((await matches()).map(match => match.status)).toEqual(['completed', 'active']);
+});
+
 it('persists independent stat high-water marks without adding cumulative snapshots or retries', async () => {
     await report('game_start');
     await report('round_change', 1);
diff --git a/tests/unit/telemetry.test.ts b/tests/unit/telemetry.test.ts
index 3ac1add..893bd09 100644
--- a/tests/unit/telemetry.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/telemetry.test.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ it('timestamps initial telemetry and subsequent status and telemetry events with
     }
 });
 
-it('persists full player stats, broadcasts updates, and leaves RCON safety data untouched', async () => {
+it.each(['round_change', 'heartbeat'] as const)('persists %s stats, broadcasts updates, and leaves RCON safety data untouched', async (event) => {
+    const payload = gameEvent(event, 17);
     const { subscribe } = await import('../../src/lib/server/pipeline/bus.js');
     const listener = vi.fn();
     const unsubscribe = subscribe(listener);
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ it('persists full player stats, broadcasts updates, and leaves RCON safety data
     await reader.cancel();
 });
 
-it('accepts all three events without an active beta and updates match lifecycle', async () => {
+it('accepts all four events without an active beta and updates match lifecycle', async () => {
     const { getServer } = await import('../../src/lib/server/fleet/servers.js');
     const { listTelemetry } = await import('../../src/lib/server/fleet/telemetry.js');
     const start = gameEvent('game_start');
@@ -71,6 +72,12 @@ it('accepts all three events without an active beta and updates match lifecycle'
     expect(getServer(start.server)?.game_started_at).toBeTruthy();
     expect(getServer(start.server)?.game_ended_at).toBeNull();
     expect((await post(payload)).status).toBe(200);
+    const startedAt = getServer(start.server)?.game_started_at;
+    const heartbeat = gameEvent('heartbeat', 17);
+    expect((await post(heartbeat)).status).toBe(200);
+    expect(listTelemetry()[0]).toMatchObject(heartbeat);
+    expect(getServer(start.server)?.game_started_at).toBe(startedAt);
+    expect(getServer(start.server)?.game_ended_at).toBeNull();
     const end = gameEvent('game_end', 18);
     expect((await post(end)).status).toBe(200);
     expect(getServer(start.server)?.game_ended_at).toBeTruthy();
@@ -93,6 +100,15 @@ it.each([null, [], {}, ...['boot', 'session_start', 'match_end', 'feature', 'oth
     expect((await post(body)).status).toBe(400);
 });
 
+it.each([
+    { ...gameEvent('heartbeat'), round: undefined },
+    { ...gameEvent('heartbeat'), round: -1 },
+    { ...gameEvent('heartbeat'), players: [{ name: 'Player', guid: '123' }] },
+    { ...gameEvent('heartbeat'), players: [{ ...roster(1)[0], kills: -1 }] }
+])('requires round and full stats for heartbeats: %j', async (body) => {
+    expect((await post(body)).status).toBe(400);
+});
+
 it('rejects unknown and destroyed servers and non-JSON requests', async () => {
     expect((await post({ ...payload, server: 'unknown' })).status).toBe(404);
     expect((await post(payload, 'text/plain')).status).toBe(415);