Latest news with #Crucible
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ronnie O'Sullivan's £2m decision after getting back with Strictly Come Dancing star girlfriend Laila Rouass
Ronnie O'Sullivan is said to have got back together with former fiancee Laila Rouass, having split up nine months ago, and the couple are set to quit the UK for a fresh start in Dubai Snooker ace Ronnie O'Sullivan has reportedly rekindled his romance with former partner Laila Rouass, just nine months after the couple called it quits. 'The Rocket' had parted ways with the Strictly Come Dancing celebrity last year after a 13-year relationship. The split came during what many consider to have been O'Sullivan's toughest period professionally, with limited appearances in 2025 leading up to this year's World Championship. However, it seems the pair have found their way back to each other, with reports indicating they are now an item once again. The Sun claims that the couple have reunited and are planning a move to Dubai. They are said to be selling their £2million property in Epping Forest in preparation for their relocation. A source said: "They have been back together for a while. "The time apart gave them time to think about what they want and what is important to them - and that is being together. "Ronnie is moving to the Middle East and Laila is going with him. They've talked about living in Dubai, which is just a two-hour flight from where Ronnie has his snooker academy in Saudi Arabia. "He has spoken to people on his snooker circuit about the move and is excited about a clean break from the UK for him and Laila. "They have had their issues in the past but Ronnie and Laila have worked through it and seem really happy again. The people who know them think they make a great couple and just want them to live a happy, quiet life. "They've been on and off before but Ronnie really wants to make it work with Laila," the source continued. "She will be joining him in the Middle East and they'll see how it goes." Following their earlier split in March, Rouass took to Instagram to reflect on the separation. "Break ups can strip you down to your essence," she wrote. "I got through mine by using pain as fuel to take control because no matter what, we will lose parts of ourselves in relationships. It's normal, don't beat yourself up. "One thing I'm conscious of not doing is trying to get back where I was. No, I'm discovering who I've become. "I've gone through various emotions... hurt, pain, anger but what I've realised about anger is that it's bottomless." In May, O'Sullivan reached the World Championship semi-finals. He was beaten by Zhao Xintong, the eventual champion at the Crucible.
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ronnie O'Sullivan rekindles Laila Rouass romance as couple make £2m decision
Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to quit the UK for the Middle East after a series of snooker struggles over the past few months but his partner Laila Rouass looks set to join him after the pair got back together Snooker legend star Ronnie O'Sullivan has reportedly rekindled his relationship with former fiancee Laila Rouass just nine months after they separated. The Rocket announced his split from the Strictly Come Dancing star last year following 13 years together. And that split coincided with what was arguably O'Sullivan's most difficult spell on the snooker table. He had barely played in 2025 heading into this year's world championship. But it now appears that he has reconciled with Rouass, with reports suggesting that the pair are now together. According to The Sun, the couple are now back together and have plans to move to Dubai together. They have apparently put their £2million Epping Forest home up for sale ahead of the move. A source said: 'They have been back together for a while. The time apart gave them time to think about what they want and what is important to them — and that is being together. 'Ronnie is moving to the Middle East and Laila is going with him. They've talked about living in Dubai, which is just a two-hour flight from where Ronnie has his snooker academy in Saudi Arabia. 'He has spoken to people on his snooker circuit about the move and is excited about a clean break from the UK for him and Laila. They have had their issues in the past but Ronnie and Laila have worked through it and seem really happy again. The people who know them think they make a great couple and just want them to live a happy, quiet life.' 'They've been on and off before but Ronnie really wants to make it work with Laila," they added. "She will be joining him in the Middle East and they'll see how it goes.' The news of the couple's reunion comes after Rouass broke her silence on their original separation back in March. Taking to Instagram, she said: "Break ups can strip you down to your essence,' she wrote. 'I got through mine by using pain as fuel to take control because no matter what, we will lose parts of ourselves in relationships. It's normal, don't beat yourself up. Is Ronnie O'Sullivan the best snooker player of all time? Share your thoughts in the comments below "One thing I'm conscious of not doing is trying to get back where I was. No, I'm discovering who I've become. I've gone through various emotions... hurt, pain, anger but what I've realised about anger is that it's bottomless." O'Sullivan only reached the World Championship semi-finals in May and was eventually defeated by eventual champion Zhao Xintong at the Crucible. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Metro
5 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Ronnie O'Sullivan faces World Snooker Championship nightmare ahead of new season
Ronnie O'Sullivan begins the snooker season with work to do to avoid an unwanted trip to World Championship qualifying next year. The Rocket reached the semi-finals at the Crucible just a few weeks ago, but that came after a time away from the game as he opted out of a string of events. He is currently sitting pretty at number five in the world rankings, but the seven-time world champion faces falling from that perch in the months to come. The 49-year-old had a brilliant 2023-24 season, winning two ranking titles. but on the two-year rolling ranking system those ranking points will come tumbling off over the coming campaign. The 2025/26 season gets underway later this month, and on the projected rankings for next year's World Championship, O'Sullivan currently sits at number 17. That would mean he would have to go to qualifying as only the top 16 seeds head straight to the Crucible for the last 32 of the tournament. The last time the Rocket had to go to World Championship qualifying was all the way back in 1994 when the likes of Alex Higgins and Cliff Thorburn also came through the qualifiers. O'Sullivan was just 18 as he beat Dennis Taylor in the first round in Sheffield before losing to John Parrott in the last 16. It was a different time entirely. He has been out of the world's top 16 since then, but has never had to qualify for the World Championship. After winning the world title in 2012 he took a year off and tumbled down the rankings but returned to the Crucible as number one seed as he was defending champion. O'Sullivan is not the only big name outside of the top 16 on the projected Crucible seedings, with Mark Allen one place below him in 18th. 2023 world champion Luca Brecel is way down at number 37 on the projected rankings ahead of the 2026 World Championship. Zhao Xintong Judd Trump Kyren Wilson John Higgins Mark Williams Neil Robertson Xiao Guodong Mark Selby Shaun Murphy Si Jiahui Ding Junhui Barry Hawkins Jak Jones Stuart Bingham Wu Yize Chris Wakelin Ronnie O'Sullivan Mark Allen Dave Gilbert Lei Peifan Full Race to the Crucible rankings available here. Of course if O'Sullivan had to win two matches at World Championship qualifying to make it to the Crucible then he would be hot favourite to do just that, but nothing is guaranteed. Neil Robertson was an unlikely name to face the nerve-shredding qualifiers two years ago and he was beaten 10-9 by Jamie Jones in the final round, missing out on a trip to the Crucible for the first time since 2004. However, despite the projected rankings being something to be well aware of, there is plenty of time for the likes of O'Sullivan and Allen to make sure they avoid the dreaded qualifiers. Both are currently comfortably inside the top 16 in the world rankings and can remain there by winning matches, and ideally tournaments. Last season saw Shaun Murphy facing the same fate of slipping out of the top 16 before the World Championship came around but the Magician just about avoided it. More Trending Murphy didn't get his hands on a ranking title last season but two semis and five quarter-finals helped him hold onto a spot in the top 16 and avoid a trip to the English Institute of Sport. The 2025-26 season gets underway on Sunday June 22 with the start of Wuhan Open qualification, held a long old way from Wuhan at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. After a quiet second half of last season O'Sullivan has entered the upcoming Wuhan Open, British Open and Shanghai Masters so looks to have a busy start to the new campaign. MORE: Aaron Hill loving Fergal O'Brien link-up as he sets sights on snooker's elite MORE: Snooker star Jackson Page begins very different job after landing huge 147 bonus MORE: Zak Surety on wild Crucible debut: They can't ever move from there – it's mad
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Snooker star whose wife is World Championship referee gets new job away from the table
Ben Woollaston, who caused one of the biggest upsets at the 2025 World Championship by knocking out fellow Leicester star Mark Selby, has landed a new role with snooker's governing body Snooker star Ben Woollaston, the husband of a leading referee, has secured a new role after achieving his best-ever result at the World Championship. The Leicester potter reached the second round after pulling off a major upset by defeating Mark Selby before being eliminated by Si Jiahui in a 13-10 loss. Woollaston's wife, Tatiana, refereed at the Crucible this year, having made her debut at snooker's premier event in 2020. She also took charge of last season's UK Championship final in York. Naturally, she is not permitted to officiate her husband's matches, not that she would want. She said last year:"I don't spend time with Ben while he's practising to help me refereeing-wise. "He's on the circuit as a player, I'm on the circuit as a referee. We've never really mix that. I'm obviously not allowed to referee his games and I wouldn't want to, to be fair." Away from snooker, Tatiana works as a merchandiser at the head office of clothing retailer Next. Meanwhile, her husband has also taken on a new role away from the table, having been appointed to the WPBSA's governance board. The sport's governing body announced on Wednesday that Woollaston had been appointed as a non-executive director with immediate effect. WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: "We are pleased to welcome Ben to the WPBSA board, which follows his election to the board of WPBSA players last December. "A professional for over 20 years, Ben has just enjoyed arguably the best season of his career, highlighted by his memorable victory against four-time world champion Mark Selby at the World Championship. Ben is ideally suited to this new role, as a player of great integrity and who is well thought of by his peers. "It has been positive to see him take a keen interest in coaching in recent years, becoming one of our WPBSA 1st4sport Level 2 Coaches and sharing his knowledge with aspiring players of all levels." Meanwhile, Woollaston, 38, said: "I am pleased to join the board of WPBSA Governance and be able to provide representation for player issues at the highest level of our sport. "As a professional snooker player for over 20 years, I have been privileged to see first-hand the development of our sport during that time and to live the highs and lows of competing on the World Snooker Tour. "I look forward to sharing my experience with the team at the WPBSA and to helping shape the future development of our sport, from grassroots level to the professional circuit." The governance board is chiefly tasked with the overall direction and management of the WPBSA, the global governing body for snooker and billiards. Woollaston joins the board as the second player-director alongside Mark Davis, who was appointed in January. The duo will work in tandem with Ferguson, vice-chairman and director Nigel Mawer and governance director Nigel Oldfield.
The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Record-breaking snooker star Jackson Page launches new side hustle after landing £147,000 bonus
SNOOKER star Jackson Page has put his historic £147,000 prize money to good use - and opened up his own shop. The 23-year-old made history earlier this year after becoming the 2 Jackson Page has put his £147,000 bonus to good use Credit: Getty Page achieved the feat during a World Championship qualifying win over Allan Taylor in April. The Welsh star bagged a £147k bonus for his trouble - a figure he Page declared he will use some of the cash to get on the housing ladder. But he's also poured some of the bonus into a new business venture. READ MORE ON SNOOKER Page is now the proud owner of a trading card and collectables shop. He opened AJs Trading Cards in Brynmawr, south Wales, late last month. The store stocks collectables and toys ranging from Pokémon card to Lego. Page told the WST earlier this year: "Everyone on tour knows that I am really into collectable stuff like Pokémon Cards and other things. Most read in Snooker BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "I just decided it would be great to open up a shop as a bit of a thing on the side. "'It is a bit of an interest for me and something I like to do when I'm not focusing on snooker. Stephen Hendry hails most underrated rival who 'should have won a lot more' "It has been a brilliant experience seeing it open up, I obviously can't work in there as I'm a snooker player but I've got someone to work there and it is a good hobby to have. "We've got all sorts of things in there like Lego sets and Plushies, as well as the trading cards. "We've got a few cards in there worth over £2,000. The most valuable and rare Pokémon card we have is called a Moonbreon." Page is currently ranked as the world No.33. He turned pro in 2019 and this year reached his first final at the Championship League. 2 Despite bagging the huge 147 jackpot, Page claimed he would have swapped the money for a place at the Crucible. The Welshman narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Worlds, losing 10-7 to Joe O'Connor on Judgement Day. Page said: "Obviously the titles mean more than the money, so I'm still gutted. "You've got a chance of winning if you're there and I was here to win the tournament. I'm not now. 'I know this might sound silly but I think I'd rather be at the Crucible. 'Last year I was hammered (by Ronnie O'Sullivan) but I was there. I would like to end there, but I've just got to say to myself that I don't want to play at qualifying again."
