Inside Ronnie O’Sullivan’s rollercoaster romance with TV star Laila Rouass, from first date to break-up and 2022 reunion

IT was a romance that started in a whirlwind, as fast as one of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s famous 147 breaks.

When the snooker legend and the glamorous TV star Laila Rouass crossed paths, there was an instant attraction between the pair.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Laila Rouass have had their relationship ups and downsRex

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Snooker genius Ronnie O’Sullivan is a a sporting legend[/caption]

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Glamorous Laila Rouass is an actress who appeared in Footballers’ Wives[/caption]

Fate brought them together, with the actress house-hunting and stumbling upon Rocket Ronnie’s home in her search.

Once Ronnie heard Laila was looking around his mansion, he contacted the estate agent, a friend of the Footballers’ Wives beauty, to arrange a date.

Within four months of that giddy 2012, they were living together in his native Essex along with her daughter, Inez from a previous marriage, and engaged in 2013.

But, it hasn’t been all plain sailing.

In 2022, Laila revealed on social media their relationship was over.

However, months later she was spotted wearing her engagement ring again.

“I can’t imagine him not being in my life,” Rouass once declared.

Matched up

It began almost 12 years ago when Laila was looking for a new home.

She stumbled upon Ronnie’s abode, not knowing it was his, but wanting a viewing.

Ronnie’s father showed her around the property, and later told his son who had been round.

As she explained it to the Belfast Telegraph: “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.”

Amusingly, she had no clue he was a sporting great.

“When she 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!”

Laila Rouass and Ronnie O’Sullivan enjoyed a whirlwind romanceGetty

Doug Seeburg - The Sun

Before they met, Laila Rouass had never heard of Ronnie O’Sullivan[/caption]

Fast mover

Four months later, the pair were head over heels for one another.

They set up home, with Ronnie playing doting stepdad to Laila’s daughter, Inez from her second married to businessman Nasir Khan, a convicted fraudster who was jailed for nine years in 2011 for a VAT scam.

However, it wasn’t easy for Ronnie to settle in at first, due to chaotic nature of the household.

“It was so funny when Ronnie and I first lived together because he’d put his hands over his ears and go, ‘Whoaa, it’s so noisy here!’

A year after their first meeting, they got engaged.

Although, they have never put a time scale on their marriage.

“I’d have to really gear myself up for a wedding,” she told The Sun earlier this year.

“At the moment we’ve put it on the back burner and we’re enjoying our time. There’s no rush.”

Laila Rouass shows off her amazing curves that attracted Ronnie O’SullivanINSTAGRAM

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Laila Rouass got engaged just a year after meetingStevenPaston

Trouble in paradise

However, despite everything appearing to be rosy in their garden – the two temporarily split in 2022.

Laila took to social media and wrote: “After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways.”

The break-up seemingly ended within weeks, with O’Sullivan insisting things were happier than ever.

‘It’s good,” he told the Mirror. “She’s great. I love her. She’s great company and I love being around her.

“She’s very supportive. I have to behave myself. I know when to go, ‘Alright, you’re in charge’.

“But she’s also really good at going, ‘Listen, you’ve got a busy life, you’ve got a lot to do, just get on with it'”.

He added: “Now it feels a lot better – everyone’s just in a better place. I just want to see her and her daughter happy, and her family, who are like my family, happy.”

Laila has been equally as gushing about Ronnie and the influence he has on her and her daughter.

“Ronnie’s had a really calming effect on us and he tells me, ‘Pick your battles’.

“He’s taught me a lot about myself because he’s more open and free than I am and very generous. I can’t imagine him not being in my life.”

In 2022 Laila Rouass and Ronnie O’Sullivan surprisingly splitRex

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Within a few weeks, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Laila Rouass got back together[/caption]

Looking to the future

The biggest indication Ronnie and Laila are finally ready to walk down the aisle came this summer, when she listed her Essex mansion for £1.1million.

She has been credited with helping Ronnie overcome his demons, including depression and substance abuse.

In the new Amazon Prime documentary Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything, Laila opened up on the “soul-destroying” time she has had watching his emotions fluctuate as snooker’s biggest icon.

But her role as supportive partner has never been questioned.

When he accepted his OBE from Prince Charles in 2015, Laila was proudly stood alongside him.

“He was overwhelmed by getting his honour. It’s typical of his modesty that he doesn’t understand why he’s so loved and why he deserved it,” she said.

Ronnie O’Sullivan shows off his OBE in 2016PA:Press Association

Laila Rouass and Ronnie O’Sullivan offer each other support during their brightest and darkest daysRex

“I’m so proud of him and think he’s very capable of handling his depression these days. He’s been strong enough to seek help, and brave enough to talk about the problem, and is so positive and upbeat about life.

“I do support him – just as he supports me – and it’s easy to support someone when you know what they’re going through.

“You know what you should and shouldn’t say – it’s about creating a safety net around them.

“He’s under an immense amount of pressure, he’s always a favourite to win which can be hard, and we have to take that on board.

“He lives a very healthy lifestyle these days and uses exercise, especially running, to help him keep his depression at bay. It’s inspiring being with him to be honest.”