Eastenders actress Laila Rouass has confirmed the end of her relationship with seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan after their 13 years spent together as a couple
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s relationship with Laila Rouass is officially over, the Eastenders actress has confirmed.
The snooker icon, 49, and Rouass, 53, who were rumoured to have split up earlier this year, had been together for 13 years. Rouass announced their parting in an emotional Instagram post which said she felt “hurt, pain and anger” but now feels “so much better, stronger and sexier”.
She wrote: “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 to what 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. It can go on and on and once you’re in that black hole…it’s very hard to drag yourself back out.
“Anyone going through a break up…I want to tell you that you will come out the other side. I have and I feel so much better, stronger and sexier. Life has a funny way of throwing in a plot twist here and there. I’ve even met an Arab Viking…like…how did that happen? Do they exist even?
“Just roll with the punches because life is so much richer, so much fuller when you drop the anger, the resentment and the regret. I’m looking back at my last relationship with a smile and wave, because time moves on and I don’t like to play catch up.”
O’Sullivan’s snooker appearances have been sporadic this season and he pulled out of the current Scottish Open in Edinburgh on the eve of the tournament. It remains to be seen whether he will take part in the upcoming Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, with the three-day tournament beginning on Wednesday, December 18.
The Rocket has burgeoning ties in Saudi Arabia with a snooker academy in his name being opened earlier this year.
There were rumours in September that he and Rouass had split up. At the time, a source told The Sun: “They have been going in different directions.
“Laila’s focus has reportedly been on her acting career. Despite the love they share, they’ve acknowledged their paths are diverging and have accepted that it’s over. They’ve tried so hard but they just can’t make it work.”
They have had an on-off relationship since first becoming an item in 2011. They briefly broke up in 2022 before rekindling their romance.
