diff --git a/cogs/gameplay.py b/cogs/gameplay.py
index 18bd4c2..148ecf0 100644
--- a/cogs/gameplay.py
+++ b/cogs/gameplay.py
@@ -11,10 +11,20 @@ from in_game.data_cache import get_pd_team
 from in_game.gameplay_db import Session, engine, create_db_and_tables, select, Game
 
 
-def get_games_by_channel(session: Session, channel_id: int):
+def get_games_by_channel(session: Session, channel_id: int) -> list[Game]:
+    # TODO: test .all() on empty return
     return session.exec(select(Game).where(Game.channel_id == channel_id)).all()
 
 
+def get_channel_game_or_none(session: Session, channel_id: int) -> Game | None:
+    all_games = get_games_by_channel(session, channel_id)
+    if len(all_games) > 1:
+        pass  # TODO: raise an exception
+    elif len(all_games) == 0:
+        return None
+    return all_games[0]
+
+
 class Gameplay(commands.Cog):
     def __init__(self, bot):
         self.bot = bot