diff --git a/src/components/VideoPlayerWithChapters.tsx b/src/components/VideoPlayerWithChapters.tsx
index b2516c9..f1c04a0 100644
--- a/src/components/VideoPlayerWithChapters.tsx
+++ b/src/components/VideoPlayerWithChapters.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export const VideoPlayerWithChapters = forwardRef<VideoPlayerRef, VideoPlayerWit
   const videoRef = useRef<HTMLVideoElement>(null);
   const wrapperRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const playerRef = useRef<Plyr | null>(null);
+  const posterRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
   const [currentChapterIndex, setCurrentChapterIndex] = useState<number>(-1);
   const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = useState<boolean>(false);
 
@@ -93,12 +94,32 @@ export const VideoPlayerWithChapters = forwardRef<VideoPlayerRef, VideoPlayerWit
 
     playerRef.current = player;
 
-    // Track play/pause state to show/hide overlay
-    player.on('play', () => setIsPlaying(true));
-    player.on('pause', () => setIsPlaying(false));
-    player.on('ended', () => setIsPlaying(false));
+    // Get poster element
+    posterRef.current = player.elements.wrapper.querySelector('.plyr__poster') as HTMLDivElement;
 
-    // Apply custom accent color
+    // Track play/pause state to show/hide poster overlay
+    player.on('play', () => {
+      setIsPlaying(true);
+      if (posterRef.current) {
+        posterRef.current.style.opacity = '0';
+      }
+    });
+
+    player.on('pause', () => {
+      setIsPlaying(false);
+      if (posterRef.current) {
+        posterRef.current.style.opacity = '1';
+      }
+    });
+
+    player.on('ended', () => {
+      setIsPlaying(false);
+      if (posterRef.current) {
+        posterRef.current.style.opacity = '1';
+      }
+    });
+
+    // Apply custom accent color and poster styles
     if (accentColor) {
       const style = document.createElement('style');
       style.textContent = `
@@ -114,6 +135,11 @@ export const VideoPlayerWithChapters = forwardRef<VideoPlayerRef, VideoPlayerWit
         .plyr__progress__buffer {
           color: ${accentColor}40 !important;
         }
+        /* Poster overlay to block YouTube UI when paused */
+        .plyr__poster {
+          background-color: transparent !important;
+          transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
+        }
       `;
       document.head.appendChild(style);
 
@@ -200,22 +226,12 @@ export const VideoPlayerWithChapters = forwardRef<VideoPlayerRef, VideoPlayerWit
   return (
     <div ref={wrapperRef} className={`plyr__video-embed relative ${className}`}>
       {youtubeId && (
-        <>
-          {/* CSS Overlay to block YouTube UI interactions - shows when paused */}
-          <div
-            className="absolute inset-0 z-10"
-            style={{
-              background: 'transparent',
-              pointerEvents: isPlaying ? 'none' : 'auto'
-            }}
-          />
-          <iframe
-            src={`https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/${youtubeId}?origin=${window.location.origin}&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&playsinline=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&controls=0&disablekb=1&fs=0`}
-            allowFullScreen
-            allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"
-            style={{ pointerEvents: 'none' }}
-          />
-        </>
+        <iframe
+          src={`https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/${youtubeId}?origin=${window.location.origin}&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&playsinline=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&controls=0&disablekb=1&fs=0`}
+          allowFullScreen
+          allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"
+          className="pointer-events-none"
+        />
       )}
     </div>
   );