Latest news with #snooker
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan 'BACK with Laila Rouass' after nine month split as couple make decision on leaving the UK
Snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass have reportedly rekindled their relationship a mere nine months after they broke up. The couple had a tumultuous on-off 13-year relationship and were engaged before they separated last year. Their split coincided with a poor run of form for the seven-time world champion, who last month admitted he needed to 'figure out' what his 'future holds.' O'Sullivan is now back with actress and Strictly Come Dancing star Rouass and they look set to move to Dubai. Last month, the 49-year-old revealed he was leaving the UK to relocate to the Middle East, while also casting doubt on his snooker future. His plans appear to be edging closer, with the eight-time Masters champion's £2million Epping Forest house up for sale and Rouass joining him in the move. 'The time apart gave them time to think about what they want and what is important to them — and that is being together,' a source told The Sun. '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. Last year, O'Sullivan signed a three-year ambassadorial deal with Riyadh Season before unveiling his own snooker academy in October. While the pair have revived their relationship, last year Rouass admitted that 'break ups can strip you down to your essence. '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.' MailOnline previously revealed that the couple put their £2 million Epping Forest home up for sale earlier this year. Images of the house showed a luxury interior including Ronnie's favourite portrait of Raquel Welch on a crucifix which adorned the wall of a staircase. But despite the smart white carpeting and plush decor, O'Sullivan could never persuade his ex-love to agree to install a snooker table, friends revealed to Mail Online. The couple's relationship first blossomed in 2011 after the snooker star called her up to view his house that was put on the market and was given a tour by his father Ronnie O'Sullivan Sr.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ronnie O'Sullivan 'reunites with ex-fiancée Laila Rouass 10 months after split as they ditch the UK for a shock new life abroad'
Ronnie O'Sullivan has reportedly reunited with his ex Laila Rouass, 10 months after the couple ended their decade-long relationship. In December, the Footballer's Wives star confirmed reports that the couple had decided to part ways for good. However, The Sun are now reporting that not only are Ronnie and Laila back together, they are hoping for a 'clean break' by ditching the UK for a new life in Dubai. Ronnie, 49, is reportedly selling his £2 million home in Chigwell, Essex, and will relocate to the UAE with Laila, 53. Sharing that Ronnie and Laila have been back together 'for a while,' a source told the publication: '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. 'They have had their issues in the past but Ronnie and Laila have worked through it and seem really happy again.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass for comment. In December, Laila first broke her silence on her split from Ronnie, telling the Mirror: 'I am going to keep that under wraps for now until there is something to speak about. Last year, the 53-year-old actress took to Instagram to speak out for the first time after her split from the snooker legend. '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.' Rouass' recent comments came a month after the couple put their £2 million Epping Forest home up for sale. Images show the luxury interior including Ronnie's favourite portrait of Raquel Welch on a crucifix which adorned the wall of a staircase. But despite the smart white carpeting and plush decor, O'Sullivan could never persuade his ex-love to agree to install a snooker table, friends revealed to Mail Online. One friend said: 'They had some very happy years there, Ronnie was successful in his snooker and Laila was in some great TV dramas like Footballers Wives and Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee. 'They are selling the house together. It's all agreed and should work out financially without any problems. Ronnie has a new place and has got himself a snooker table there.' Suggestions that the couple's famously on-off relationship was back in trouble first emerged in September - but then days later Ronnie was seen putting the bins out in his Y-fronts and slippers at the house they share in Essex. The couple were also photographed together in the days that followed - but since then it's understood they have both accepted their relationship has run its course. Laila is continuing to live in the mansion and has installed a Christmas tree in the front window with glittering lights and daily takes her two dogs for walks in nearby woodland. Her relationship with Ronnie first blossomed in 2011 after the snooker champ called her up to view his house that was recently put on the market and was given a tour by his father Ronnie O'Sullivan Sr. They went on to have a relationship that lasted more than a decade and had planned to wed. In an old interview Laila previously explained how they had first got together: ''It happened by accident. 'I was shown around Ronnie's house by his father, who told his son about meeting me. Ronnie called the estate agent, a friend of mine, and asked me out via her. 'When he said he was a snooker player I said, 'yeah but what does he do for a living?' I'd never heard of him because sport doesn't interest me at all, although Ronnie's won me over to snooker.' They confirmed their whirlwind romance by getting engaged in the following year. Speaking of their long engagement, Laila, who has a seven-year-old daughter called Inez from a previous relationship, told The Mirror in 2019: 'I'd have to really gear myself up for a wedding. 'At the moment we've put it on the back burner and we're enjoying our time so there's no rush.' But the couple split up after a decade together with Laila making the announcement to shocked fans. 'After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways,' she wrote on Instagram in February 2022. 'Peace & love to you all. Laila X.' However, that separation did not last long and by April, Laila was spotted wearing her engagement ring once again. The following month, the pair confirmed their reconciliation, before jetting off on holiday. The actress said last year that open communication brought them back together after their split. Laila said: 'We found our way back, we just worked it out. Back when I announced it, we hadn't been together for almost eight months at that time. 'Talking is so underrated. If you can sit down and say how you feel and what you want when you get older that is much easier to say too.' However, this time there doesn't seem to be a way back for them. The actress, who featured in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing, surprised her 68,000 Instagram followers last week by revealing her new optimistic outlook on life in what it's now clear was her first detailed post as a single woman. She posted: 'How are you all? I'm slowly dipping my toe back into Instagram. I took a much-needed break from socials to get my s*** together because these last few months have been testing to say the least.' Laila continued: 'The thing is, stepping back has been nothing short of magical and I think that's largely because I've found faith. 'I don't necessarily mean the religious kind, although that does make up part of my faith journey, I mean actually discovering what faith can do for me and how it's always been there, l've just not given it the acknowledgment it deserves. What's struck me is how faith is so much bigger than I am, so much more powerful and so much more effective. 'You can call it God, Allah, Buddha, nature, energy, frequency, it doesn't matter. What matters is the perspective and peace it gives you. 'l've realised how faith controls so much more than I ever could and that was an epiphany for me. It's had the most profound effect. 'I feel so much lighter and I feel as if my heart has really, truly and fully opened. 'I have been approaching things with an open heart and mind because I really do have faith that things will work themselves out. That life will be good and to enjoy what l have because as good as life is, it's also fickle. 'Truly understanding faith has given me so much freedom to make choices that are not always safe. She continued: 'It's liberating to just let go of the bullshit and anything or anyone that's a thief of joy.' 'I wanted to share this with you because I'm entering a new chapter of my life and it's terribly exciting. Exciting because I don't feel alone. 'I have my faith right next to me and it's taught me that life is infinitely more richer when it's lived in honesty and trust.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ronnie O'Sullivan is BACK with Strictly star Laila Rouass as they quit UK for shock new life abroad
SNOOKER star Ronnie O'Sullivan and girlfriend Laila Rouass are loopy for each other again nine months after splitting up. The pair have rekindled their relationship — and pals told The Sun they are hoping for a 'clean break' from the UK by moving to Dubai together. 3 3 3 Seven-time world champion Ronnie, 49, is selling his £2million house in Chigwell, Essex, and plans to head off to the UAE with actress and Strictly star Laila, 53. A source told us: '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.' Ronnie — nicknamed the Rocket because of his explosive stayle of play — proposed to Laila in 2013, a year after they started dating. The Sun first revealed they had ended their engagement last September after his hectic work schedule pushed them apart. The source added: 'They've been on and off before but Ronnie really wants to make it work with Laila. Zhao Xintong's classy act towards Ronnie O'Sullivan revealed after knocking legend out of World Snooker Championship 'She will be joining him in the Middle East and they'll see how it goes.' Ronnie first revealed his dream of moving abroad earlier this year but said it was early days. However, following his defeat in the Snooker World Championship semi-finals in May, he said: 'I think I am going to be moving out of the UK this year. 'I'll be moving away to the Middle East. We'll see how it goes — I might be back in six months. 'A new life somewhere else. I don't know how that is going to pan out. 'I will still try to play snooker but I don't know what the future looks like for me really. 'It is a big part of my life but I have to try and figure out what my future looks like, whether it's playing or not.'
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I wasn't sure I'd play again' – Snooker star Sam Craigie reveals year-long battle with horror neck injury
SNOOKER star Sam Craigie has revealed his year-long battle with a horror neck injury, admitting: 'I wasn't sure I'd play again.' Craigie, 31, is one of snooker's top players after turning professional in 2011. 6 6 6 He boasts 101 century breaks after recording a best ranking finish of third at the 2021 WST Pro Series. But Craigie is currently listed at just 84th in the world after playing his last match in September 2024. The ace vanished from sight following his English Open qualifying defeat to Michael Holt, leading to questions from fans over his future. However, Craigie has now posted a lengthy statement online revealing that he has been dealing with serious health issues. Posting several pictures of himself in hospital with scarring around his neck, the ace revealed that intense shoulder pain and a slipped disc left him unable to play. Craigie admits the setback was so bad that he even considered giving up snooker. However, he is well on the road to recovery and even got his tour card confirmed earlier this month. Craigie is now in line to compete at the Wuhan Open qualifiers on June 23 against Aaron Hill. And he is also scheduled for a British Open qualifier just days later against Yao Pengcheng. Cragie told fans on Instagram: 'Some of you might have been wondering where I have been on the World Snooker Tour. 'Not fit for purpose' - Barry Hearn slams Crucible with World Snooker Championship tipped to 'travel around world' 6 6 6 'Well, it's been a bit of a tough time of late. For around a year, I had been in & out of the GP for shoulder pain. In June 2024, I was sent for an x-ray & MRI where I found I had a tear. 'From around then the pain became almost permanent, I nearly had to withdraw from most tournaments during that time but somehow had my best result in getting to the Semi finals of the German Masters despite the pain I was in. 'Once the season finished, I decided to see a orthopaedic surgeon who informed me the pain in my shoulder was most likely coming from my neck, which was confirmed by an MRI, showing I had a slipped disc. 'I then decided to go forward with the surgery (C5/6 anterior cervical disc replacement) in July as the pain was unbearable. Thankfully, all went well, and I was discharged the following day, thinking I would be back to full health a few weeks after the surgery. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. 'The first few tournaments were only a week or 2 away at the time, but I simply couldn't get down to play a shot when I tried. I informed world snooker about the situation after withdrawing from multiple events. 'The following months, I couldn't do much at all. I wasn't sure if I'd even play snooker again. Around January 2025, I started thinking about snooker seriously again and slowly started having a few hours of practice. 'It was hard to commit to it due to still being in some pain while playing. A couple of months ago I started taking it seriously again. On Friday 6th June 2025 my tour card was confirmed so now I can get my head down and look forward to what the future holds.' Fans were quick to praise Craigie, with one saying: 'It's great you're back in the game.' Another declared: 'Wish you the best.'
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Secretary General of OOC receives President of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation
Muscat: Abdullah Mohammed Bamakhalef, Secretary General of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), received Mubarak Hamad Al-Khaterin, President of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation, on Sunday at the OOC headquarters, as part of his official visit to the Sultanate of Oman. The meeting focused on exploring avenues of mutual cooperation between both parties, including opportunities to further develop the sport of billiards and snooker at both the national and international levels. Discussions highlighted the importance of keeping pace with the sport's global progress and enhancing its competitive presence. The two sides also exchanged views on supporting relevant programs and initiatives, and emphasized the significance of establishing effective channels of communication between the OOC and the International Federation to support the sport's growth in line with global standards. This meeting comes as part of the OOC's continued efforts to strengthen ties with international sports organizations and expand collaborative opportunities that align with its goals of advancing the sports sector in accordance with best international practices. As part of the visit, Mubarak Hamad Al-Khaterin toured the Oman Olympic Museum, located within the OOC premises, where he viewed exhibitions, archival documents, and models that chronicle the journey of sports in Oman and the nation's participation in Olympic, regional, and international events.
