diff --git a/resources/lang/en.json b/resources/lang/en.json
index 51157c2e7..7395d4e66 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en.json
+++ b/resources/lang/en.json
@@ -215,7 +215,8 @@
     "player": "Player",
     "players": "Players",
     "waiting": "Waiting for players...",
-    "start": "Start Game"
+    "start": "Start Game",
+    "host_badge": "Host"
   },
   "team_colors": {
     "red": "Red",
diff --git a/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts b/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
index 9904822c4..b0c3150d8 100644
--- a/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
+++ b/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
@@ -60,12 +60,11 @@ export interface LobbyConfig {
 }
 
 export function joinLobby(
+  eventBus: EventBus,
   lobbyConfig: LobbyConfig,
   onPrestart: () => void,
   onJoin: () => void,
 ): () => void {
-  const eventBus = new EventBus();
-
   console.log(
     `joining lobby: gameID: ${lobbyConfig.gameID}, clientID: ${lobbyConfig.clientID}`,
   );
diff --git a/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts b/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts
index 0296c29dc..5362311b8 100644
--- a/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts
+++ b/src/client/HostLobbyModal.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ import {
   mapCategories,
 } from "../core/game/Game";
 import { UserSettings } from "../core/game/UserSettings";
-import { GameConfig, GameInfo, TeamCountConfig } from "../core/Schemas";
+import {
+  ClientInfo,
+  GameConfig,
+  GameInfo,
+  TeamCountConfig,
+} from "../core/Schemas";
 import { generateID } from "../core/Util";
 import "./components/baseComponents/Modal";
 import "./components/Difficulties";
@@ -40,9 +45,10 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
   @state() private instantBuild: boolean = false;
   @state() private lobbyId = "";
   @state() private copySuccess = false;
-  @state() private players: string[] = [];
+  @state() private clients: ClientInfo[] = [];
   @state() private useRandomMap: boolean = false;
   @state() private disabledUnits: UnitType[] = [UnitType.Factory];
+  @state() private lobbyCreatorClientID: string = "";
   @state() private lobbyIdVisible: boolean = true;
 
   private playersInterval: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
@@ -395,29 +401,45 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
         <!-- Lobby Selection -->
         <div class="options-section">
           <div class="option-title">
-            ${this.players.length}
+            ${this.clients.length}
             ${
-              this.players.length === 1
+              this.clients.length === 1
                 ? translateText("host_modal.player")
                 : translateText("host_modal.players")
             }
           </div>
 
           <div class="players-list">
-            ${this.players.map(
-              (player) => html`<span class="player-tag">${player}</span>`,
+            ${this.clients.map(
+              (client) => html`
+                <span class="player-tag">
+                  ${client.username}
+                  ${client.clientID === this.lobbyCreatorClientID
+                    ? html`<span class="host-badge"
+                        >(${translateText("host_modal.host_badge")})</span
+                      >`
+                    : html`
+                        <button
+                          class="remove-player-btn"
+                          @click=${() => this.kickPlayer(client.clientID)}
+                          title="Remove ${client.username}"
+                        >
+                          ×
+                        </button>
+                      `}
+                </span>
+              `,
             )}
-          </div>
         </div>
 
         <div class="start-game-button-container">
           <button
             @click=${this.startGame}
-            ?disabled=${this.players.length < 2}
+            ?disabled=${this.clients.length < 2}
             class="start-game-button"
           >
             ${
-              this.players.length === 1
+              this.clients.length === 1
                 ? translateText("host_modal.waiting")
                 : translateText("host_modal.start")
             }
@@ -434,12 +456,13 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
   }
 
   public open() {
+    this.lobbyCreatorClientID = generateID();
     this.lobbyIdVisible = this.userSettings.get(
       "settings.lobbyIdVisibility",
       true,
     );
 
-    createLobby()
+    createLobby(this.lobbyCreatorClientID)
       .then((lobby) => {
         this.lobbyId = lobby.gameID;
         // join lobby
@@ -449,7 +472,7 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
           new CustomEvent("join-lobby", {
             detail: {
               gameID: this.lobbyId,
-              clientID: generateID(),
+              clientID: this.lobbyCreatorClientID,
             } as JoinLobbyEvent,
             bubbles: true,
             composed: true,
@@ -633,17 +656,29 @@ export class HostLobbyModal extends LitElement {
       .then((response) => response.json())
       .then((data: GameInfo) => {
         console.log(`got game info response: ${JSON.stringify(data)}`);
-        this.players = data.clients?.map((p) => p.username) ?? [];
+
+        this.clients = data.clients ?? [];
       });
   }
+
+  private kickPlayer(clientID: string) {
+    // Dispatch event to be handled by WebSocket instead of HTTP
+    this.dispatchEvent(
+      new CustomEvent("kick-player", {
+        detail: { target: clientID },
+        bubbles: true,
+        composed: true,
+      }),
+    );
+  }
 }
 
-async function createLobby(): Promise<GameInfo> {
+async function createLobby(creatorClientID: string): Promise<GameInfo> {
   const config = await getServerConfigFromClient();
   try {
     const id = generateID();
     const response = await fetch(
-      `/${config.workerPath(id)}/api/create_game/${id}`,
+      `/${config.workerPath(id)}/api/create_game/${id}?creatorClientID=${encodeURIComponent(creatorClientID)}`,
       {
         method: "POST",
         headers: {
@@ -654,6 +689,8 @@ async function createLobby(): Promise<GameInfo> {
     );
 
     if (!response.ok) {
+      const errorText = await response.text();
+      console.error("Server error response:", errorText);
       throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
     }
 
@@ -663,6 +700,6 @@ async function createLobby(): Promise<GameInfo> {
     return data as GameInfo;
   } catch (error) {
     console.error("Error creating lobby:", error);
-    throw error; // Re-throw the error so the caller can handle it
+    throw error;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/client/Main.ts b/src/client/Main.ts
index c7b00c106..7e268accb 100644
--- a/src/client/Main.ts
+++ b/src/client/Main.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import favicon from "../../resources/images/Favicon.svg";
 import version from "../../resources/version.txt";
 import { UserMeResponse } from "../core/ApiSchemas";
+import { EventBus } from "../core/EventBus";
 import { GameRecord, GameStartInfo, ID } from "../core/Schemas";
 import { ServerConfig } from "../core/configuration/Config";
 import { getServerConfigFromClient } from "../core/configuration/ConfigLoader";
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ import "./PublicLobby";
 import { PublicLobby } from "./PublicLobby";
 import { SinglePlayerModal } from "./SinglePlayerModal";
 import { TerritoryPatternsModal } from "./TerritoryPatternsModal";
+import { SendKickPlayerIntentEvent } from "./Transport";
 import { UserSettingModal } from "./UserSettingModal";
 import "./UsernameInput";
 import { UsernameInput } from "./UsernameInput";
@@ -77,6 +79,7 @@ export interface JoinLobbyEvent {
 
 class Client {
   private gameStop: (() => void) | null = null;
+  private eventBus: EventBus = new EventBus();
 
   private usernameInput: UsernameInput | null = null;
   private flagInput: FlagInput | null = null;
@@ -163,6 +166,7 @@ class Client {
     setFavicon();
     document.addEventListener("join-lobby", this.handleJoinLobby.bind(this));
     document.addEventListener("leave-lobby", this.handleLeaveLobby.bind(this));
+    document.addEventListener("kick-player", this.handleKickPlayer.bind(this));
 
     const spModal = document.querySelector(
       "single-player-modal",
@@ -429,6 +433,7 @@ class Client {
     const config = await getServerConfigFromClient();
 
     this.gameStop = joinLobby(
+      this.eventBus,
       {
         gameID: lobby.gameID,
         serverConfig: config,
@@ -514,6 +519,15 @@ class Client {
     this.gameStop = null;
     this.publicLobby.leaveLobby();
   }
+
+  private handleKickPlayer(event: CustomEvent) {
+    const { target } = event.detail;
+
+    // Forward to eventBus if available
+    if (this.eventBus) {
+      this.eventBus.emit(new SendKickPlayerIntentEvent(target));
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 // Initialize the client when the DOM is loaded
diff --git a/src/client/Transport.ts b/src/client/Transport.ts
index 99aa8ff77..446642ac2 100644
--- a/src/client/Transport.ts
+++ b/src/client/Transport.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export class MoveWarshipIntentEvent implements GameEvent {
   ) {}
 }
 
+export class SendKickPlayerIntentEvent implements GameEvent {
+  constructor(public readonly target: string) {}
+}
+
 export class Transport {
   private socket: WebSocket | null = null;
 
@@ -241,6 +245,9 @@ export class Transport {
     this.eventBus.on(MoveWarshipIntentEvent, (e) => {
       this.onMoveWarshipEvent(e);
     });
+    this.eventBus.on(SendKickPlayerIntentEvent, (e) =>
+      this.onSendKickPlayerIntent(e),
+    );
   }
 
   private startPing() {
@@ -611,6 +618,14 @@ export class Transport {
     });
   }
 
+  private onSendKickPlayerIntent(event: SendKickPlayerIntentEvent) {
+    this.sendIntent({
+      type: "kick_player",
+      clientID: this.lobbyConfig.clientID,
+      target: event.target,
+    });
+  }
+
   private sendIntent(intent: Intent) {
     if (this.isLocal || this.socket?.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
       const msg = {
diff --git a/src/client/styles.css b/src/client/styles.css
index fc11d21e6..6afaafe46 100644
--- a/src/client/styles.css
+++ b/src/client/styles.css
@@ -251,15 +251,15 @@ label.option-card:hover {
 }
 
 .player-tag {
-  display: flex;
+  display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
-  padding: 4px 16px;
+  gap: 8px;
+  background: #2a2a2a;
+  color: #fff;
+  padding: 8px 12px;
+  margin: 4px;
   border-radius: 16px;
   font-size: 14px;
-  color: #fff;
-  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
 }
 
 #bots-count,
@@ -625,18 +625,6 @@ label.option-card:hover {
   padding: 0 16px;
 }
 
-.player-tag {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
-  padding: 4px 16px;
-  border-radius: 16px;
-  font-size: 14px;
-  color: #fff;
-  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
-}
-
 /* News Button Notification */
 news-button .active button {
   position: relative;
@@ -670,3 +658,28 @@ news-button .active button::after {
     transform: scale(1.4);
   }
 }
+
+.host-badge {
+  font-size: 11px;
+  color: #4caf50;
+  font-weight: bold;
+}
+
+.remove-player-btn {
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  border: none;
+  background: #ff4444;
+  color: white;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  margin-left: 4px;
+}
+
+.remove-player-btn:hover {
+  background: #ff6666;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/Schemas.ts b/src/core/Schemas.ts
index b38372a49..65064c705 100644
--- a/src/core/Schemas.ts
+++ b/src/core/Schemas.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ export type Intent =
   | QuickChatIntent
   | MoveWarshipIntent
   | MarkDisconnectedIntent
-  | UpgradeStructureIntent;
+  | UpgradeStructureIntent
+  | KickPlayerIntent;
+
 export type AttackIntent = z.infer<typeof AttackIntentSchema>;
 export type CancelAttackIntent = z.infer<typeof CancelAttackIntentSchema>;
 export type SpawnIntent = z.infer<typeof SpawnIntentSchema>;
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ export type MarkDisconnectedIntent = z.infer<
 export type AllianceExtensionIntent = z.infer<
   typeof AllianceExtensionIntentSchema
 >;
+export type KickPlayerIntent = z.infer<typeof KickPlayerIntentSchema>;
 
 export type Turn = z.infer<typeof TurnSchema>;
 export type GameConfig = z.infer<typeof GameConfigSchema>;
@@ -356,6 +359,11 @@ export const MarkDisconnectedIntentSchema = BaseIntentSchema.extend({
   isDisconnected: z.boolean(),
 });
 
+export const KickPlayerIntentSchema = BaseIntentSchema.extend({
+  type: z.literal("kick_player"),
+  target: ID,
+});
+
 const IntentSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("type", [
   AttackIntentSchema,
   CancelAttackIntentSchema,
@@ -377,6 +385,7 @@ const IntentSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("type", [
   MoveWarshipIntentSchema,
   QuickChatIntentSchema,
   AllianceExtensionIntentSchema,
+  KickPlayerIntentSchema,
 ]);
 
 //
diff --git a/src/server/GameManager.ts b/src/server/GameManager.ts
index 23da54850..2375948f1 100644
--- a/src/server/GameManager.ts
+++ b/src/server/GameManager.ts
@@ -28,20 +28,31 @@ export class GameManager {
     return false;
   }
 
-  createGame(id: GameID, gameConfig: GameConfig | undefined) {
-    const game = new GameServer(id, this.log, Date.now(), this.config, {
-      gameMap: GameMapType.World,
-      gameType: GameType.Private,
-      difficulty: Difficulty.Medium,
-      disableNPCs: false,
-      infiniteGold: false,
-      infiniteTroops: false,
-      instantBuild: false,
-      gameMode: GameMode.FFA,
-      bots: 400,
-      disabledUnits: [],
-      ...gameConfig,
-    });
+  createGame(
+    id: GameID,
+    gameConfig: GameConfig | undefined,
+    creatorClientID?: string,
+  ) {
+    const game = new GameServer(
+      id,
+      this.log,
+      Date.now(),
+      this.config,
+      {
+        gameMap: GameMapType.World,
+        gameType: GameType.Private,
+        difficulty: Difficulty.Medium,
+        disableNPCs: false,
+        infiniteGold: false,
+        infiniteTroops: false,
+        instantBuild: false,
+        gameMode: GameMode.FFA,
+        bots: 400,
+        disabledUnits: [],
+        ...gameConfig,
+      },
+      creatorClientID,
+    );
     this.games.set(id, game);
     return game;
   }
diff --git a/src/server/GameServer.ts b/src/server/GameServer.ts
index 300d8c063..d76eebeac 100644
--- a/src/server/GameServer.ts
+++ b/src/server/GameServer.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export class GameServer {
   private turns: Turn[] = [];
   private intents: Intent[] = [];
   public activeClients: Client[] = [];
-  // Used for record record keeping
+  private LobbyCreatorID: string | undefined;
   private allClients: Map<ClientID, Client> = new Map();
   private clientsDisconnectedStatus: Map<ClientID, boolean> = new Map();
   private _hasStarted = false;
@@ -71,8 +71,10 @@ export class GameServer {
     public readonly createdAt: number,
     private config: ServerConfig,
     public gameConfig: GameConfig,
+    lobbyCreatorID?: string,
   ) {
     this.log = log_.child({ gameID: id });
+    this.LobbyCreatorID = lobbyCreatorID ?? undefined;
   }
 
   public updateGameConfig(gameConfig: Partial<GameConfig>): void {
@@ -118,6 +120,13 @@ export class GameServer {
       });
       return;
     }
+    // Log when lobby creator joins private game
+    if (client.clientID === this.LobbyCreatorID) {
+      this.log.info("Lobby creator joined", {
+        gameID: this.id,
+        creatorID: this.LobbyCreatorID,
+      });
+    }
     this.log.info("client (re)joining game", {
       clientID: client.clientID,
       persistentID: client.persistentID,
@@ -223,6 +232,42 @@ export class GameServer {
               );
               return;
             }
+
+            // Handle kick_player intent via WebSocket
+            if (clientMsg.intent.type === "kick_player") {
+              const authenticatedClientID = client.clientID;
+
+              // Check if the authenticated client is the lobby creator
+              if (authenticatedClientID !== this.LobbyCreatorID) {
+                this.log.warn(`Only lobby creator can kick players`, {
+                  clientID: authenticatedClientID,
+                  creatorID: this.LobbyCreatorID,
+                  target: clientMsg.intent.target,
+                  gameID: this.id,
+                });
+                return;
+              }
+
+              // Don't allow lobby creator to kick themselves
+              if (authenticatedClientID === clientMsg.intent.target) {
+                this.log.warn(`Cannot kick yourself`, {
+                  clientID: authenticatedClientID,
+                });
+                return;
+              }
+
+              // Log and execute the kick
+              this.log.info(`Lobby creator initiated kick of player`, {
+                creatorID: authenticatedClientID,
+                target: clientMsg.intent.target,
+                gameID: this.id,
+                kickMethod: "websocket",
+              });
+
+              this.kickClient(clientMsg.intent.target);
+              return;
+            }
+
             this.addIntent(clientMsg.intent);
           }
           if (clientMsg.type === "ping") {
@@ -453,6 +498,10 @@ export class GameServer {
     }
   }
 
+  public isPrivateLobbyCreator(clientID: string): boolean {
+    return this.LobbyCreatorID === clientID;
+  }
+
   phase(): GamePhase {
     const now = Date.now();
     const alive: Client[] = [];
diff --git a/src/server/Worker.ts b/src/server/Worker.ts
index 8d0bc5d5b..e1f636f12 100644
--- a/src/server/Worker.ts
+++ b/src/server/Worker.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   ClientMessageSchema,
   GameRecord,
   GameRecordSchema,
+  ID,
   ServerErrorMessage,
 } from "../core/Schemas";
 import { CreateGameInputSchema, GameInputSchema } from "../core/WorkerSchemas";
@@ -90,6 +91,13 @@ export function startWorker() {
     "/api/create_game/:id",
     gatekeeper.httpHandler(LimiterType.Post, async (req, res) => {
       const id = req.params.id;
+      const creatorClientID = (() => {
+        if (typeof req.query.creatorClientID !== "string") return undefined;
+
+        const trimmed = req.query.creatorClientID.trim();
+        return ID.safeParse(trimmed).success ? trimmed : undefined;
+      })();
+
       if (!id) {
         log.warn(`cannot create game, id not found`);
         return res.status(400).json({ error: "Game ID is required" });
@@ -122,10 +130,11 @@ export function startWorker() {
         return res.status(400).json({ error: "Worker, game id mismatch" });
       }
 
-      const game = gm.createGame(id, gc);
+      // Pass creatorClientID to createGame
+      const game = gm.createGame(id, gc, creatorClientID);
 
       log.info(
-        `Worker ${workerId}: IP ${ipAnonymize(clientIP)} creating game ${game.isPublic() ? "Public" : "Private"} with id ${id}`,
+        `Worker ${workerId}: IP ${ipAnonymize(clientIP)} creating ${game.isPublic() ? "Public" : "Private"}${gc?.gameMode ? ` ${gc.gameMode}` : ""} game with id ${id}${creatorClientID ? `, creator: ${creatorClientID}` : ""}`,
       );
       res.json(game.gameInfo());
     }),