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 Dunnsa国际传媒檚 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 sa国际传媒� the top level on tour sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒� but it was popular with a rougher crowd than his. Dunn didnsa国际传媒檛 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.

sa国际传媒淚 used to skip classes and practise foosball for countless hours,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淔irst it was just a fun game to play, but then I started to go to tournaments at bars to win bar tabs.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淏efore I bought a bed or anything else I bought a table,sa国际传媒� Dunn said with a laugh.

Canada didnsa国际传媒檛 have much in the way of pro tournaments, but those in the United States dated back to the 1970s. The prize money was good sa国际传媒� routinely $30,000 to $40,000 and as high as $100,000 to split among top finishers.

sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檇 hope to pay for your trip or expenses,sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淭he current No. 1 player, I cansa国际传媒檛 beat him.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淚 would call myself a choker sa国际传媒� that was another aspect I had to figure out,sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淢aybe I just figured it out and thatsa国际传媒檚 where the motivation was,sa国际传媒� he said

Dunn still plays for fun, on the table in his Saanich home sa国际传媒� under a custom light hand-crafted by Heather, his always supportive wife sa国际传媒� as well as with friends.

Dunn was inducted Canada Foosball Hall of Fame this spring.

The inscription reads in part: sa国际传媒淚n recognition of Ericsa国际传媒檚 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.sa国际传媒�