A 62-year-old man was last night fighting for his life after he was shot by robbers who invaded his home following a high-stakes poker game.

Richard Gaglio was shot in the chest at close range by one of two hooded men who burst into his house on Hinson Lane , Smith's, demanding cash, shortly after 1.30 a.m. on Sunday.

Last night, he was said to be in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where family members have been at his side over the holiday weekend.

About 25 people are said to have been involved in the game on Saturday night, including prominent international businessmen, a union official, a leading restaurateur and a journalist.

Several thousand dollars exchanged hands over the evening, but almost all the players had left by the time of the robbery, taking virtually all the cash with them.

The robbers are thought to have waited in nearby bushes before barging through a garage door while Mr. Gaglio and a close friend were cleaning up at the end of the night.

One offender had a gun and the other a machete, according to a source.

They fired a single shot at Mr. Gaglio and fled with between $100 and $200; nothing else was stolen.

One player, who left the house before the shooting, said: "Richard's game is one of the most popular in Bermuda. It's always friendly and everybody gets on with each other.

"At the moment everybody's in shock. Nobody ever imagined this could happen. Of course, at this time all of our thoughts are with Richard and we are hoping he makes a speedy recovery.

"He's a colourful character and always the life and soul of the game."

It is the 15th confirmed firearm incident of 2009. Detectives believe the gunmen had not planned to shoot Mr. Gaglio, and they could have been inexperienced criminals desperate for cash.

They note the amount the gunmen hoped to steal was tiny compared to the sums at stake in the drugs and guns warfare which has gripped the Island in recent months.

Police have not ruled out the chance of it being an inside job, as the offenders must have known when the game was being played and what time it was likely to finish.

"We are worried that it may have been one of the contacts of one of the players," one player told this newspaper.

However detectives say that, if the robbers were tipped off, their informant must have failed to let them know it was likely the winners would leave with the cash long before the end of the evening.

High-stakes poker games have been hosted in private homes since a Police crackdown on matches in bars such as Flanagan's and The Beach two years ago.

The games regularly organised at Mr. Gaglio's home are said to be legal, with the "house" not making a profit and no liquor being sold. A Police source connected to the investigation yesterday told The Royal Gazette the games are known for attracting well-known members of the community, and that it crosses all barriers, including racial.

Mr. Gaglio's wife Mary, who owns one of the largest horse stables on the Island, was overseas when the incident happened, and flew back to the Island yesterday morning.

Mrs. Gaglio and other family members, including his twin brother Raymond, who was also involved in Saturday night's game, were too upset to speak to the media yesterday. The third brother Robert Gaglio, a national team cricketer, died last year.

Chief Inspector Antoine Daniels of the Serious Crime Unit told a press conference yesterday: "Our initial inquiries indicate this was not a random residence targeted. This house is used for organised gambling."

Mr. Daniels said forensic analysts from the US were examining the crime scene, and called for people to come forward with information about the two suspects: two black men, one taller than the other, wearing dark clothes.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Middle Road area between Store Hill and Hermitage Road should call the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8106 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 1-800-623-8477.