Ronnie O'Sullivan and former fiancee Laila Rouass agree deal to seal clean break

Daily Mirror

07-06-2025

The snooker icon, 49, is now understood to be planning to quit the UK and move to the Middle East where he has a snooker academy
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass have agreed a deal to sell their former home, as they prepare for a clean break.
The former couple, who announced in December they had split after an on-off 12-year relationship, put the five-bed home up for sale for £2million earlier this year. A source told the Mirror: "The property has now been sold, subject to contract."
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Seven-time world snooker champ Ronnie, 49, and former EastEnders and Footballers Wives actress Laila, 53, jointly bought the house, in Woodford Green, east London, for £1.35million in June 2018. The dad-of-three is now understood to be planning to quit the UK and move to the Middle East where he has a snooker academy.
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Speaking after being knocked out of the World Snooker Championship, which ended last month, Ronnie admitted: "There's going to be a few changes in my life. I think I'm going to be moving out of the UK.
"I'm going to start a new life somewhere else. I'll still try to play snooker, but I don't know what the future looks like for me, really.
"Am I not playing again? I'm not saying anything. I've said it so many times. I'm not saying anything other than I'm moving away soon. There's a lot more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker."
Ronnie and Laila, who got engaged in 2013 but never married, first got together in 2012 after she was shown around a previous house of his while she was property hunting. He later asked her out via the estate agent, who was a pal of hers.
Their relationship was rocked by claims Ronnie's mum Maria had called Laila "a prostitute" and the couple initially split in February 2022. They reconciled just months later, but then parted ways again last year.
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Laila confirmed she and Ronnie had decided to split for good following months of speculation after she was seen without her engagement ring during an appearance on This Morning in August last year. She later wrote on Instagram: "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.
"The thing about break ups... It doesn't have to be a sad time. It doesn't have to be hard. It can be the beginning of new adventures, new learnings.
"It can be a wonderful teacher. Using self-compassion and manifesting a new life without someone you love can still lead you to a place of joy."