British ColumbiaA Surrey, B.C., magician took home the innovation award at this year’s World Championship of Magic. Magicians compete to represent their country every three years, and this year’s global competition took place in Turin, Italy.Competition is held once every 3 years somewhere in the world, magician saysSantana Dreaver · CBC News · Posted: Aug 02, 2025 10:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 31 minutes agoBilly Hsueh is president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. (Submitted by Billy Hsueh)Billy Hsueh is a Surrey, B.C., magician who recently competed in Turin, Italy, at an international magic competition known as the “Olympics of magic.”Hsueh won a prize in the invention category at the World Championship of Magic — where magicians are rewarded for inventing a new magic trick or upgrading an existing trick.His trick, called “Think-a-Drink,” turning water into a drink of choice for an audience member, won him the prize.He had to compete to represent Canada at the global competition. “It is essentially the Olympics of magic where you have to qualify in your continent and then you can represent at the championships,” Hsueh told CBC’s The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn. He also represented the International Brotherhood of Magicians at the competition, the world’s largest organization dedicated to magic, where he was elected as president.WATCH | Surrey magician wins big at famed international magic competition:Surrey magician wins big at famed international magic competitionSurrey magician Billy Hsueh has won a prestigious international magic award in Italy. Hsueh joined CBC’s Stephen Quinn to share what it was like to represent Canada on the world stage, and dazzled the studio with feats of magic.He has been a magician for nearly 20 years and has performed for audiences in Italy, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Taipei, Vancouver and beyond. Billy Hsueh winning a prestigious international magic award in Italy. (Submitted by Billy Hsueh)Before life as a magician, Hsueh used to work in the hospitality industry, serving and bartending. He says that he uses real-life examples to influence his magic tricks.”My goal is making sure that you are having as much fun as I am performing,” he said. Hsueh said he was inspired to become a magician when he was 11 years old at summer camp, where he visited a magic shop on Granville Island. “The guy at the counter showed me some magic, and that’s kind of where I got hooked.”He started researching magic, learning tricks, and joined the local Vancouver magic circle. Magicians from around the world compete in the competition once every three years, with the next one in Busan, South Korea, in 2028. ABOUT THE AUTHORSantana Dreaver is a Saulteaux and Plains Cree journalist based in Vancouver. She was raised in northern Saskatchewan and is a member of Mistawasis Nehiyawak. She has a background in political science and reports on Indigenous affairs, culture and governance.
B.C. magician wins big at renowned ‘Olympics of magic’ championship in Italy
