As a young man, the elder Chou's passion for Go saw him travel around the major clubs looking for challengers. His life's goal was to go pro.
愛棋成癡的周炎山，年輕時終日泡在各大棋社找對手下棋，人生目標原本是成為職業棋士，但因棋力進步有限只好作罷，轉而將希望全寄託在子女身上。