The skill, Stu, is making higher percentage plays than the other guy, by playing a sound game or reading the opponents well. Over time, and it may be a long time for tournaments, a skillful player will do better than a player who plays poorly and relies on luck. Will the better player, with a proven record over time, do better than all of the poorer players in a particular tournament? Probably not, because there are so many aggressive, somewhat reckless players that may force the better player into more all in situations (4 or 5 of those will make you a big dog to survive, even if you have a 2 to 1 advantage on each of these situations). Nonetheless, the particular skillful player should do better than a particular unskillful player over a long period of time. That means that skill is involved. If you do not believe that such players exist, look at the records of Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreaneau, Cyndy Violette, Doyle Brunson, etc. The difference is more noticeable in cash games, where people in big money games are not as reckless as people with stacks of tournament chips in front of them. All of the bad beat stories you can muster don't change the facts that there are professional poker players. Try to find professionals at true games of luck, like craps and roulette. You won't find many. I have met many professional poker players, and I only play low limit.