BEIJING -- Chinese men's chess team coach Xu Jun has been named the best male coach of 2017, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Trainers' Commission announced on its official website this week.

This is the second time Xu has received the accolade, having first won the title in 2015. The winner was decided by a panel consisting of seven illustrious international chess experts.

Xu expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Chess Association, which he said "establishes a great platform for chess players".

"The award is the result of our joint efforts," Xu said, attributing his success to the unremitting efforts and diligence of generations of players.

China's fourth grandmaster, Xu has also been a chess coach since 1988, helping bring through batches of excellent female chess players and overseeing historic breakthroughs in men's chess. Together with his players, Xu won titles such as the 2014 Chess Olympiad, and the 2015 and 2017 World Chess Team Championship.