Latest news with #TheRocket
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ronnie O'Sullivan's next tournament revealed after marrying Laila Rouass in low-key ceremony and quitting UK
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN is preparing to return to snooker after marrying Laila Rouass. The couple rekindled their relationship after months apart and tied the knot in a low-key ceremony in Shadwell, East London. 3 3 They plan to jet out to Dubai to start a new life, with O'Sullivan keen for a bit of peace and quiet according to his manager Jason Francis. The Rocket could feature at invitational event Shanghai Masters next month, says Francis, though he is likely to pick and choose which tournaments he plays. Francis told The Express: '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. '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 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, 49, missed large parts of last season as he was not happy with his form and technique. He snapped his cue at the Championship League in January and did not play on tour until the World Snooker Championship in April. O'Sullivan had a rocky patch away from the table too as he moved out of the home he shared with Rouass in Chigwell, Essex. The Sun first revealed they had ended their engagement last September after his hectic work schedule pushed them apart. However, the time apart gave them time to think about what they want — and that is being together, a source told us. O'Sullivan and Rouass first began dating in 2012 and were engaged a year later. The snooker legend told fans: "We finally made it official!! Mr & Mrs O'Sullivan."
BreakingNews.ie
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass confirm marriage in Instagram post
Snooker ace Ronnie O'Sullivan and actress Laila Rouass have revealed that they are now husband and wife. The couple posted a picture of themselves on Instagram standing on the steps of St George's Town Hall in east London, with confetti raining down upon them. Advertisement Rouass, 54, is wearing a cream coloured slip-style dress and black cowboy boots, while O'Sullivan, 49, is wearing a navy shirt and trousers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ronnie O'Sullivan (@ronnie) Known as 'The Rocket', O'Sullivan, the seven-time world snooker champion and a recovering addict, captioned his post: 'We finally made it official!! Mr & Mrs O'Sullivan.' Rouass wrote a longer caption which she concluded with the words 'Free Palestine'. She wrote: 'The Palestinians have taught me so much, most importantly to honour human connection, make love your motivator and to keep refreshing it. So after almost a year break … this was one way of pressing the refresh button.' Advertisement With a reference to the high profile nuptials of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, She continued: 'Ok…so it wasn't Venice … that was fully booked (laughing emoji) It was Cable Street in Shadwell where I was born and where my heart belongs. 'It's where in 1936, local activists along with the Jewish community gathered together to demonstrate against the planned fascist BUF marchers and it's on their shoulders we stood today and said our 'I do's'.' Rouass is best known for playing doctor Sahira Shah in Holby City between 2011 and 2021, and Amber Gates in Footballers' Wives, where her character was reportedly based on Victoria Beckham. She has also appeared in Primeval and Spooks, as well as competing as a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, where she was partnered with Anton Du Beke. Advertisement
Borneo Post
22-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Chong urges S'wak govt to prioritise financial aid over mega projects
Chong offers DAP's official magazine, The Rocket during the walkabout. KUCHING (June 22):Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen has urged the state government to prioritise easing the financial burden on low- and middle-income groups rather than allocating funds for mega projects. The Padungan assemblyman and Stampin MP made this call after receiving feedback from the local community during a walkabout in Gala City and Premier 101 commercial centres here yesterday. Chong said people are struggling financially amid the current economic situation. 'The Sarawak government should focus on how to improve our economy and increase the income sources for our low- and middle-income families. 'This is not the time to give priority to the development of mega projects that involve billions of ringgit,' he said after the event, which also saw him promoting DAP's official magazine, The Rocket. Chong said the DAP is not against the state government implementing development projects, but many of those mega projects 'do not seem to directly benefit the people as in increasing their income'. He cited these projects as the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project, the Second Trunk Road project, and the construction of a Deep-Sea Port and a new Kuching International Airport. He said enormous funds are required to make these projects happen and this does not help the low- and middle-income groups, who are facing financial difficulties. According to him, people worry more about whether these large-scale projects would benefit them directly. 'Not only are these projects going to use up tonnes of taxpayers' money, but they do not help increase the income of most people. Money is never enough as far as most people are concerned,' he said. As such, Chong suggested that the state government shift its focus to developing the manufacturing sector in line with enhancing the state's productivity and increasing job opportunities for locals. He believed that this would directly increase household income in the state as well as bring Sarawak's economic level to new heights. Meanwhile, he thanked all those who had supported the DAP Sarawak by purchasing Rocket, hoping that more people would back the DAP to increase opposition voices in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN). At present, he said there are only two DAP elected representatives in the august House. 'Given this scenario, the checks and balances mechanism is as good as none. The only way to see a healthy democracy is by having more opposition members, especially from the DAP, in the House. 'This helps ensure that the government of the day will not approve budgets and implement projects as they wish,' added Chong.
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ronnie O'Sullivan offered major deal by Barry Hearn as sports icon looks beyond snooker
BARRY HEARN is keen to get behind Ronnie O'Sullivan's proposal for snooker academies across the UK. O'Sullivan, 49, revealed his potting masterplan during the World Snooker Championship for a series of clubs in the four Home Nations and Ireland. Advertisement 2 Ronnie O'Sullivan plans to build snooker academies across the UK 2 Promoter Barry Hearn is keen to back O'Sullivan's vision The Rocket reckons him and fellow Class of 92 graduates Mark Williams (Wales) and John Higgins and 1997 world champion Ken Doherty (Ireland) could use their names to front the academies. However, it needs serious funding, perhaps by government channels, and a long-term vision to help discover the next generation to rival the talented young Chinese cueists coming through. There are only two Brits under the age of 30 in the top 50 spots on the world rankings – Jackson Page (23) and Joe O'Connor (29) -- compared to 11 from China, which includes This was put to Hearn, who is a very wealthy man and the president of Matchroom Sport – who plays on Tuesday in the UK Open pool first round – who has embraced the idea. Advertisement Read More on Snooker Hearn, 76, said: 'We've got to work harder on that. We need more academies. 'But you need people that want to play and there's got to be a reason for that. 'I mean the youngsters now that watch 'There's a million people under-21 who are out of work. This is a potential disaster. We're losing the generation. Advertisement Most read in Snooker CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'And sport can be a way of curing that. Snooker can help, I hope. But we need to do more. Definitely. 'So the exhibition of snooker that we are seeing here in Sheffield, maybe a kid goes, 'I'd like to have a go at that'. Ronnie O'Sullivan makes rare blunder in first break of World Snooker Championship semi-final 'The Class of 92 are still an unbelievable story. You think every 50-year-old should start playing snooker because that's the age to be. Advertisement 'But we need the Luke Littler effect in snooker without doubt. 'Ronnie likes his academies. He's got one in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and it's beautiful. They look after him extremely well. 'I don't think he'll get quite the same treatment if he launches a series of academies in England. 'But to use his name would be a very valuable asset in trying to promote grassroots. Advertisement 'And I think if he has really serious ideas, I would welcome a meeting between him and World Snooker. Hearn backs O'Sullivan 'It's all right having a plan. My whole life has been about plans in my head. You have to live them out. 'You can't just say something now. You've gotta do something. 'But if he is serious about it, I would 100 per cent welcome it and get beyond him solidly to launch a series of Advertisement O'Sullivan has seven world titles – a record he shares with Stephen Hendry – and provided he locates a proper cue at some point, having snapped his favourite one in January, he will aim to go for No8 in 2026. Time is running out, of course, for him to achieve that dream and yet he has been badly overlooked by the honours system for what he has done in the sport, given he has only received an OBE. Ronnie praise Hearn said: 'Ronnie O'Sullivan has been the best player in the world for many years. 'There's no question about that. And what he's doing this week is typical Ronnie O'Sullivan, defying all the odds and all logic. Advertisement 'Breaks his cue. Comes back. Tries three or four cues. I mean the boy is a total phenomenon. 'There's a case to say that he deserves to be picked out and to be knighted for services to snooker. 'I mean he's human. He has different parts of attitude that may not appeal to everybody. 'But for his sheer excellence, I think there's a very good case to be made. And I would welcome it.' Advertisement
Sky News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Sky News
Zhao Xintong becomes first player from China to win snooker world championship as he beats Mark Williams
Zhao Xintong has become the first player from China to win the snooker world championship after beating Mark Williams 18-12. The 28-year-old is also only the third winner of the tournament to have come through qualifying since it moved to Sheffield in 1977. Sunday night's session began 17-8, meaning Zhao only needed one frame to clinch the title. Three-time world champion Williams gave his fans faint hope of the most dramatic of comebacks when he won the opening four frames, including a break of 101. However, it was only a matter of time and Zhao, nicknamed 'The Cyclone', finally got the frame he needed. He wins £500,000 and the prestige of being the first Chinese and Asian champion at the Crucible. Fifty-year-old Welshman Williams paid tribute to his opponent, saying there's "a new superstar of the game and he's over there". Despite his huge lead, Zhao admitted he was "so nervous" ahead of the final frames and that his historic win seemed like a dream. He thanked his family and coaches and said he would probably "have a good drink tonight". The player was joined by his mother and girlfriend as the ticker tape fell, and he collected the trophy. Zhao - who now lives in the UK - was banned for 20 months in 2023 for his part in a match-fixing scandal. Despite not throwing a match himself, he lost his professional status and was barred from the snooker world tour, though he's due back next season. Zhao also thrashed his hero Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-final "The Rocket" posted a picture of the pair together when his opponent was a child alongside the caption: "How it started vs how it's going." A record 10 Chinese players made it to the Crucible this year, and Zhao's victory could make him a huge star back home and propel the sport to new heights. When Ding Junhui made it to the final in 2016, more than 200 million people in China are estimated to have watched on TV.
