Ronnie O'Sullivan's snooker plans become clearer after reuniting with girlfriend Laila Rouass
Ronnie O'Sullivan plans for the new snooker season have emerged following the news that the seven-time world champion has reconciled with long-term partner Laila Rouass
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass have got back together
(Image: Getty )
Ronnie O'Sullivan's manager has revealed the snooker icon's plans for the new season following a tumultuous 2024/25 campaign both on and off the table.
The Rocket's frustrations peaked during a round of Championship League action in January when he snapped his cue in anger and subsequently withdrew from the Masters at Alexandra Palace and host of other tournaments.
Equipped with a new cue, he made a much-anticipated comeback at the World Championship in April, reaching the semi-finals despite ongoing equipment issues. After losing to eventual champion Zhao Xintong, O'Sullivan announced his plans to relocate to the Middle East, where he has a snooker academy in Saudi Arabia in his name.
In personal news, the Rocket is reportedly back together with actress Laila Rouass, following their split nine months ago. The pair are rumoured to be planning for a new life in Dubai, a two-hour flight away from his Riyadh-based academy.
Jason Francis, O'Sullivan's long-standing manager, revealed that the 49-year-old has been thriving in his new environment and anticipates his participation in the Shanghai Masters, a prestigious invitational event commencing on July 28.
"Ronnie's moved out to the Middle East for a while. You'll probably see him first in Shanghai. He's had a little break from the UK," Francis told the Express.
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O'Sullivan is enjoying life in the Middle East
(Image: Getty )
"You're talking about someone who can't go to the shop without being asked for a selfie, a photo. Where he is, he's finding a life a little bit quieter at the moment.
"Ronnie's Ronnie. He'll decide when he wants to play and everyone knows he can come from nowhere to win a major tournament. You won't see Ronnie play a full schedule [this season] but I think you'll see him try and properly prepare for the tournaments he plays in.
"He'll still be the sport's most commercial player in the short-term. Whether Zhao Xintong or [Judd] Trump can pick up that mantle now as we transition... Ronnie will be 50 in December, people have to remember that. They still expect him to turn up and win everything."
O'Sullivan will pick and choose his tournaments this season
(Image: Getty )
While still struggling with his game, making the last four at the Crucible was an impressive feat after so long out. On O'Sullivan's performance at the World Championship, Francis added: "Absolutely incredible. He didn't even have a cue a few weeks before!
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"But that's Ronnie for you. He had one bad session [losing all eight frames in the second session]. I'm not saying he could have beaten Xintong - there was a feeling his name was on the trophy - but apart from one bad session, he was still toe to toe with him.
"I think if he had beaten Xintong, him and Mark Williams would have been an incredible final. But it's great for snooker to have a Chinese world champion and it's for World Snooker to exploit that over there."
The Shanghai Masters will see the top 16 players in the world rankings joined by the next four highest-ranked Chinese players. The tournament boasts a prize fund of £825,000, with the winner banking £210,000.
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