Ronnie O’Sullivan appeared visibly despondent upon being publicly seen for the first time following his reported separation from fiancée Laila Rouass, while Rouass, the smiling Footballers’ Wives actress, carried on with her routine grocery shopping.
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan and his former fiancée, Laila Rouass, have been photographed together for the first time since their unexpected separation, which follows more than 12 years of their relationship.
O’Sullivan, 48, who was recently eliminated from the BetVictor English Open, is reported to have spent minimal time with the actress, 53. Last month, Ms. Rouass, known for her role in Footballers’ Wives, was notably seen without her engagement ring during an appearance on This Morning.
Sources close to the couple have suggested that work commitments caused a rift between them this year, with seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan frequently traveling abroad for competitions, while Laila Rouass focused on her acting career.
As news of their separation emerged, O’Sullivan was photographed looking downcast outside Woodford Station in north-east London as he entered his vehicle.
In contrast, Ms. Rouass, who was once again not wearing her engagement ring, was seen smiling and laughing during a phone call while on a trip to the supermarket. Wearing sunglasses and dressed in all black, the actress was pictured speaking on the phone and struggling to carry packs of bottled water.
The couple, who briefly separated for eight months after a decade together, reconciled, with insiders now expressing hope that this current break-up could be a temporary issue, similar to their split in 2022.
A source told The Sun: “They have been going in different directions. Ronnie and Laila put significant effort into their relationship after reuniting a couple of years ago. Ronnie frequently shared photos of them together and made romantic gestures on special occasions, but that has since ceased. Despite their best efforts, they have struggled to make it work. Although there is still a lot of love between them, they have accepted that they are moving in different directions, and it is over.”
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Laila Rouass, known for her roles in Holby City, Footballers’ Wives, and EastEnders, was recently seen without her engagement ring during an appearance on This Morning. She had worn the ring since 2013, a year after O’Sullivan proposed following their meeting in 2011.
Their relationship began when Ronnie O’Sullivan contacted Laila after his father, Ronnie O’Sullivan Sr., had shown her around his house, which was for sale at the time. Laila recalled, “It happened by accident. I was shown around Ronnie’s house by his father, who mentioned meeting me to Ronnie. Ronnie later reached out to me through an estate agent, who was a friend of mine, and asked me out.”
“When he mentioned he was a snooker player, I asked, ‘Yeah, but what does he do for a living?’ I had never heard of him because sports don’t interest me at all, although Ronnie has since won me over to snooker,” Laila Rouass once remarked about the beginning of their whirlwind romance, which led to their engagement the following year.
In 2019, Rouass spoke to The Mirror about their prolonged engagement, stating, “I’d have to really gear myself up for a wedding. For now, we’ve put it on the back burner and are enjoying our time, so there’s no rush.”
However, after a decade together, the couple parted ways, with Rouass making the announcement to fans via Instagram in February 2022: “After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways. Peace & love to you all. Laila X.”
Despite the split, they reunited by April, with Rouass once again wearing her engagement ring, and by May, the pair confirmed their reconciliation before taking a holiday together. Rouass later explained that open communication had been the key to rekindling their relationship. “We found our way back. We just worked it out. When I made the announcement, we hadn’t been together for almost eight months at that time. Talking is so underrated. If you can sit down and express how you feel and what you want, it’s easier as you get older.”
Meanwhile, O’Sullivan, following his defeat to China’s He Guoqiang on Tuesday, reflected on the nearing end of his snooker career. “I haven’t got long, I’m not going to deny it. I’m not playing well enough, there’s no point in worrying about it—I’ve accepted it, which is a nice place to be,” he said.
“It’s embarrassing. I miss so many balls. I can’t get away from it. It’s poor, but there’s nothing I can do about it,” he added, expressing that for the past four or five years, he has struggled with consistency. “Now and then, I miss fewer shots and get some results, but I don’t even care. I’m just here to fulfill my commitments to my sponsors, get away from home, and travel.”
