Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) is the Indian version of PUBG Mobile which is exclusively available in India.

Developed by popular eSports company Krafton, the BGMI is a free-to-play battle royale video game.

BGMI was initially released on July 2, 2021 for Android devices and was later available for iOS devices on August 18, 2021.

Previously known as PUBG Mobile India, the BGMI is a TPP-FPP survival shooter game in which up to 100 players compete in a battle royale. 

It is a type of large-scale last man standing deathmatch in which gamers battle to be the last one standing. Players can enter the match as individuals or as small groups of up to four.

Since the launch, BGMI has over 10 crore downloads on Google Play store so far. 

Additionally, several top Tier-1 eSports players have competed in the high-profile BGMI tournaments hosted in India.

The likes of Sahil Jakhar (Omega), Harsh Paudwal (Goblin), Arjun Mandhalkar (ShadowOG), Saumya Raj (Saumraj) and Jonathan Amaral (Jonathan Gaming) have performed exceptionally in previous BGMI eSports tournaments.

With the rise in popularity of the game, the debate that is ongoing currently is who is the GOAT of BGMI, which is an acronym for greatest of all time in the eSport.

Who is the GOAT of BGMI?

Similar to how Lionel Messi is regarded as the GOAT of football, Jonathan Amaral, professionally known as Jonathan Gaming, is considered the GOAT of BGMI. 

Known for his head-tracing capabilities and laser-like aim, the young Indian eSports professional is often hailed as the best BGMI player to have played the sport by fans and pundits.

Currently an integral member of India's leading Esports organisation, Godlike Esports, Jonathan has won several BGMI tournaments including LOCO: War of Glory Grand Finals, Ranbhoomi Season 1 and Skyesports Championship 3.0. He also finished runners-up with Godlike Eports in BGMI Masters Series 2022. 

Also known as the “Universal MVP,” the Goa-born eSports star was adjudged the most valuable player in Skyesports Championship 3.0, Skyesports Grand Slam 2022, BGMI Masters Series, Red Bull M.E.O. Season 4 and PUBG Mobile Pro League - South Asia Season 1.

Furthermore, Amaral holds the record for the highest individual kill count in a BGMI tournament. The talented BGMI player recorded 16 kills at the 2020 PMIS semi-finals.

Due to his dominance in the BGMI circuit, several of his compatriots have also hailed him as the best BGMI player to have graced the game.

Photo credit: Alamy