Can computer software that doesn't use databases still beat best in world? Are there strong chess engines that can beat most of the good chess engines without using databases (like opening databases), solely using brute force?
In the recent Nakamura - Stockfish match, Stockfish played with a one pawn handicap. 

Additionally "According to match conditions, Stockfish was not allowed to access either an opening book or an endgame tablebase.". 

Without opening database and with a one pawn handicap, Stockfish still beat Nakamura quite handily 3-1.