diff --git a/.context/standards/ci-cd.md b/.context/standards/ci-cd.md
index 625ea19..141c210 100644
--- a/.context/standards/ci-cd.md
+++ b/.context/standards/ci-cd.md
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
 Every pull request to `main` must pass a fully automated pipeline. No exceptions,
 no manual override, no "I'll fix it in the next PR."
 
+> **Project rule (chesscom):** integration tests in `tests/integration/` are a
+> mandatory CI gate. They are fully mocked with `responses` (offline) and run as a
+> dedicated required step in `.github/workflows/ci.yml`, in addition to the combined
+> coverage run. The pipeline must fail — and merge is blocked — if any integration
+> test fails. Always validate them when checking changes; never skip them.
+
 ---
 
 ## 1 · Placeholder Reference
diff --git a/.context/standards/testing.md b/.context/standards/testing.md
index 86f7309..0a8f2d2 100644
--- a/.context/standards/testing.md
+++ b/.context/standards/testing.md
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ Every layer must pass before code is merged. No exceptions.
 
 - **Minimum 90 % line coverage** is enforced on every PR via CI.
 - Coverage must **never decrease** between commits. New code without tests fails the gate.
+- **Integration tests are a mandatory gate.** The suite under `tests/integration/`
+  mocks all HTTP via `responses` (fully offline) and runs both as part of the default
+  `pytest` run and as a dedicated required step in CI. A failing integration test fails
+  the pipeline and blocks merge — they must always be validated, never skipped.
 - Run locally:
   ```bash
   # Generic pattern — substitute your runner and package
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c55021c..6dbe369 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Lint with ruff
         run: ruff check .
 
-      - name: Run tests with coverage
+      - name: Run integration tests (mandatory gate)
+        run: pytest tests/integration -v
+
+      - name: Run full test suite with coverage
         run: pytest --cov=src --cov-report=term-missing --cov-report=xml --cov-fail-under=90
 
       - name: Upload coverage report
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index e3360aa..4c6c265 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ pytest
 # Run tests with coverage
 pytest --cov=src --cov-report=term-missing
 
+# Run the mandatory integration-test gate explicitly (mocked, offline)
+pytest tests/integration -v
+
 # Lint
 ruff check .
 
@@ -262,10 +265,14 @@ The following standards are non-negotiable. Do not weaken them. Detailed guidanc
 - **No `os.getenv()` outside `config.py`** — always read configuration through
   `AppConfig`. Violations break the single-source-of-truth pattern.
 
-- **Integration tests require network access** — tests in `tests/integration/`
-  make live calls to `api.chess.com`. Never run them in CI without a network.
-  Unit tests in `tests/unit/` must be fully offline; use `responses` to mock
-  HTTP, never `unittest.mock.patch` on `requests` directly.
+- **Integration tests are a mandatory, offline pipeline gate** — tests in
+  `tests/integration/` mock every HTTP call with the `responses` library, so they
+  run fully offline with **no live network access** to `api.chess.com`. They run
+  automatically as part of `pytest` (`testpaths = ["tests"]`) and as a dedicated,
+  required step in CI; the pipeline **must fail** if any integration test fails, and
+  they must always be run when validating changes — never skip them. Unit tests in
+  `tests/unit/` must likewise be fully offline; use `responses` to mock HTTP, never
+  `unittest.mock.patch` on `requests` directly.
 
 - **Don't commit generated output** — the `output/` directory is git-ignored.
   Never add `.xlsx` files to version control.
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index db58efa..2934b4d 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -20,4 +20,7 @@ Assessment, review, planning, and refactoring playbooks are available as Claude
 - **Chess.com API domain knowledge** — the public API (`api.chess.com/pub`) is unauthenticated. All endpoint methods live in `ChessComClient`. The Chrome `User-Agent` header is required and must not be removed.
 - **Five report types** — `member-summary`, `match-participation`, `prospects`, `match-eligibility`, `timeout-check`. New report types must follow the `BaseReport` subclass pattern and be registered in `cli.py`.
 - **Environment variables drive all configuration** — every setting is in `.env.template`. New settings must be added to `AppConfig` in `config.py` first; never use `os.getenv()` directly.
-- **Verify tests pass before marking work complete** — run `pytest` after any behaviour change.
+- **Verify tests pass before marking work complete** — run the full `pytest` suite
+  (which includes `tests/integration/`) after any behaviour change. Integration tests
+  are mocked with `responses` (fully offline) and are a **mandatory** pipeline gate;
+  always validate them and never skip them.