Trophies line a corner and a stained glass overhead spotlights a professional grade foosball table in a corner room of a suburban Victoria home.

The hardware tells the story Eric Dunn香蕉视频直播檚 years at the top of the game in the province, nation and world.

Dunn was the first Canadian to reach the rank of pro-master 香蕉视频直播� the top level on tour 香蕉视频直播� and the first member of the Canada Foosball Hall of Fame.

When he was a high schooler in Moose Jaw, Sask. the lone local watering hole had table soccer 香蕉视频直播� but it was popular with a rougher crowd than his. Dunn didn香蕉视频直播檛 really find foosball until first-year university where there was a table in residence.

Despite rarely winning, he enjoyed it immediately.

The next year that catapulted in the other direction and he ventured out to the bars and started playing for $50 bar tab prizes.

香蕉视频直播淚 used to skip classes and practise foosball for countless hours,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淔irst it was just a fun game to play, but then I started to go to tournaments at bars to win bar tabs.香蕉视频直播�

After graduation from the University of Saskatchewan, he found work in Ottawa.

香蕉视频直播淏efore I bought a bed or anything else I bought a table,香蕉视频直播� Dunn said with a laugh.

Canada didn香蕉视频直播檛 have much in the way of pro tournaments, but those in the United States dated back to the 1970s. The prize money was good 香蕉视频直播� routinely $30,000 to $40,000 and as high as $100,000 to split among top finishers.

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檇 hope to pay for your trip or expenses,香蕉视频直播� Dunn said. Small wins of titles or tourneys were a means to the long-term goal of becoming a pro-master.

As the sport grew, he developed leagues and promoted the sport wherever he lived 香蕉视频直播� first in Ottawa, then the Vancouver area. He even developed an app (no longer in use) for scoring.

For many years he was the best in Canada and highly ranked in North America. Though not any more, he said with a chuckle.

香蕉视频直播淭he current No. 1 player, I can香蕉视频直播檛 beat him.香蕉视频直播�

The joy came in many forms, including crowds, cameras and cash, but learning about himself and the psychology behind the game many compare to speed chess.

香蕉视频直播淚 would call myself a choker 香蕉视频直播� that was another aspect I had to figure out,香蕉视频直播� Dunn said.

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He studied and sought out professionals in the field, reading myriad books on the subject.

Part of the allure, he thinks looking back, was the pursuit of a goal 香蕉视频直播� achieving pro-master but also perfecting the highly strategic game.

It was always about improvising, learning what worked and eventually solving the larger puzzle.

Dunn played two decades before retiring from competition in 2017.

香蕉视频直播淢aybe I just figured it out and that香蕉视频直播檚 where the motivation was,香蕉视频直播� he said

Dunn still plays for fun, on the table in his Saanich home 香蕉视频直播� under a custom light hand-crafted by Heather, his always supportive wife 香蕉视频直播� as well as with friends.

Dunn was inducted Canada Foosball Hall of Fame this spring.

The inscription reads in part: 香蕉视频直播淚n recognition of Eric香蕉视频直播檚 exceptional talent, dedication and achievements in Canadian foosball, including multiple national and international titles and his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of the sport across the country.香蕉视频直播�