Anand said in 1987, the first database (simulation of real time intelligent and real-world chess environments) was incredibly low at 20,000 games.

"Right now, my select database is about 12 million," he said.

"Progressively, it has become impossible for people to work without computers. Nowadays, it's very difficult, if not impossible (to play chess without computers)," Anand told reporters at a press conference here.

Some of the top young chess players have never known a world where chess was not studied through computers, he said.

"I am looking at more opportunities than I used to (before using computers). My way of looking for unusual moves, moves that don't fit into the pattern recognition... Have improved because of working with computers," Anand said.

Anand was today gifted a gaming computer, powered by quad-core Phenom processor, and the one tera flop ATi Radeon 4870x2 graphics card by chip major AMD, of which he is the Brand Ambassador.

He conceded that human beings would never be able to match up to high-end computers if games are played between them. PTI