As newcomer and transplanted Brit Matilda Bathurst gained some traction Wednesday night at the Red Lion in Lincoln Square, observer Chris Kelly turned to me and said, "If she waltzes to this board-top, the title writes itself."

Chris and I fancy ourselves to be geniuses when it comes to titling these game summaries, and normally, we can appreciate each other's references. This one had me stumped, though. I'm not well versed in Australian folk music, and "Walk on the Wild Side" is as deep into the Lou Reed weeds as I can go.

As both her neighbor on the board and a history major who specialized in Medieval civilization, I was thinking instead of the central figure in an English civil war. While victorious, that Matilda was never crowned, though, so Chris gets the nod.

Game No. 369, played June 13 at the Red Lion, ended by draw vote in Spring 1905 in the following center counts:

With his second board-top in as many outings, Kevin O'Kelly proved yet again that you only need one "e" to spell evil. Big Kevin played masterfully, pitting his neighbors against one another, always offering just enough help to keep them blowing into his sails without ever sending a favorable wind their way. By 1906, he had navigated his way to a dominant position in the middle of the board. Tired of fighting the choppy sea, the other players yielded in Spring 1907.

Game No. 368, played yesterday at Jim O'Kelley's home in Little Italy, ended by draw vote in the following center counts: