---
title: "Force-release the active claim (admin takeover)"
method: DELETE
path: "/v1/matches/{match_id}/claim/force"
tags: ["Match Claims"]
---

# Force-release the active claim (admin takeover)

`DELETE /v1/matches/{match_id}/claim/force`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.hify.club`
- URL: `https://api.hify.club/v1/matches/{match_id}/claim/force`
- Auth: API key in header `X-User-Token`

Admin-only takeover door for the destroyed-device case: releases the match's active claim regardless of who holds it, bumping the writer epoch. The superseded device's next event flush gets 409 stale_claim; the replacement device bootstraps from GET scoring_events and continues at acked_seq + 1.

Unlike PATCH /v1/matches/{id}/release this deliberately leaves the match in_progress, since a takeover means scoring continues on another device.

## Response `204`

Claim force-released, or no active claim to release

## Other responses

- `401`: Unauthorized
- `403`: Forbidden — admins only
- `404`: Match not found

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/hify/apis/hify-apis.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/hify/apis/hify-apis/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/hify/apis/hify-apis/revisions/b5920403538d?raw)