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含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社� the top level on tour 含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� but it was popular with a rougher crowd than his. Dunn didn含羞草研究社檛 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.

含羞草研究社淚 used to skip classes and practise foosball for countless hours,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淔irst it was just a fun game to play, but then I started to go to tournaments at bars to win bar tabs.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淏efore I bought a bed or anything else I bought a table,含羞草研究社� Dunn said with a laugh.

Canada didn含羞草研究社檛 have much in the way of pro tournaments, but those in the United States dated back to the 1970s. The prize money was good 含羞草研究社� routinely $30,000 to $40,000 and as high as $100,000 to split among top finishers.

含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檇 hope to pay for your trip or expenses,含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淭he current No. 1 player, I can含羞草研究社檛 beat him.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚 would call myself a choker 含羞草研究社� that was another aspect I had to figure out,含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淢aybe I just figured it out and that含羞草研究社檚 where the motivation was,含羞草研究社� he said

Dunn still plays for fun, on the table in his Saanich home 含羞草研究社� under a custom light hand-crafted by Heather, his always supportive wife 含羞草研究社� as well as with friends.

Dunn was inducted Canada Foosball Hall of Fame this spring.

The inscription reads in part: 含羞草研究社淚n recognition of Eric含羞草研究社檚 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.含羞草研究社�