diff --git a/web/fetch_pro_matches.py b/web/fetch_pro_matches.py
index 2cb4098..e6f7ac1 100644
--- a/web/fetch_pro_matches.py
+++ b/web/fetch_pro_matches.py
@@ -666,14 +666,55 @@ def main() -> None:
         player_source = "proPlayers"
 
     _log("loading pro players ...")
-    try:
+    pro_index: dict[int, dict] = {}
+    if args.all_pros and not player_ids_raw:
         pro_index = fetch_pro_index()
-    except SystemExit as exc:
-        # Watchlist runs can proceed without /proPlayers when OpenDota is 429'd.
-        if args.all_pros and not player_ids_raw:
-            raise
-        _log(f"  warn: {exc}; continuing with watchlist/cli names only")
-        pro_index = {}
+    else:
+        # Fail-fast: watchlist runs do not need /proPlayers to refresh matches.
+        try:
+            raw = http_json(f"{OPENDOTA}/proPlayers", retries=0)
+        except (
+            urllib.error.HTTPError,
+            urllib.error.URLError,
+            TimeoutError,
+            json.JSONDecodeError,
+            OSError,
+        ) as exc:
+            _log(f"  warn: proPlayers unavailable ({exc}); watchlist names only")
+            raw = None
+        if isinstance(raw, list):
+            for row in raw:
+                if not isinstance(row, dict):
+                    continue
+                try:
+                    aid = int(row.get("account_id") or 0)
+                except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                    continue
+                if aid <= 0:
+                    continue
+                name = row.get("name")
+                if isinstance(name, str):
+                    name = name.strip() or None
+                else:
+                    name = None
+                team_tag = row.get("team_tag")
+                if isinstance(team_tag, str):
+                    team_tag = team_tag.strip() or None
+                else:
+                    team_tag = None
+                team_name = row.get("team_name")
+                if isinstance(team_name, str):
+                    team_name = team_name.strip() or None
+                else:
+                    team_name = None
+                pro_index[aid] = {
+                    "account_id": aid,
+                    "name": name,
+                    "team_tag": team_tag,
+                    "team_name": team_name,
+                    "country_code": row.get("country_code"),
+                    "last_match_time": row.get("last_match_time"),
+                }
     _log(f"  {len(pro_index)} registered pros")
 
     player_ids = parse_pro_filter(args.players, pro_index)