Things haven't always been smooth sailing for recovering addict Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan but now, he reckons he has found some balance in his life.
The snooker ace has opened up about his life, saying “I’m less intense, I’ve not mellowed in that I’ve changed my personality, but I’ve learned to just not take myself too seriously. I’m much more philosophical.”
The seven-time world champion didn't have the easiest start in life as his dad was jailed for murder when Ronnie was 16, and he had problems with drugs, alcohol and depression.
Ronnie, 47, has overcome periods of self-doubt, only to come back stronger than ever.
He has documented his struggles with severe anxiety and “snooker depression” in his latest book, Unbreakable.
These days, Ronnie lives a quiet life. He has a good relationship with his parents, who are divorced – Ron Sr was freed in 2010 after serving 18 years. Ronnie has been with his partner, Footballers Wives actress Laila Rouass for a decade, despite briefly splitting last year.
Speaking about their relationship, Ronnie tells The Mirror : “It’s good, 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’.
“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.”
In February 2022, the actress took to Twitter to announce that the pair have decided to call time on their relationship.
In her statement, she wrote: "After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways. Peace & love to you all. Laila X."
Laila and Ronnie first met in 2012 when Laila was house-hunting and the following year they got engaged but never did get married.
In 2016, she told the Irish News: “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.
“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.”
In the book, Ronnie says his worst times were from 1994 to 2000.
He says the things that saved him were rehab and running, while the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Steps programme and a good sports psychiatrist have also helped.
He said: “I went to AA and NA, I learned about addiction and struggled for about three or four years, because I just couldn’t accept that I was an addict."
“Now I don’t question it, whereas before, I’d go out and try to drink sensibly and fail miserably. So now, I think, don’t even start. They say if you stand outside the barber’s long enough, eventually you’ll get a haircut.
“So I stay away from clubs, from people that drink. They’re not for me, because eventually that will be me.”
A way Ronnie helps his anxiety is by keeping a diary, something he's done for the last ten years. He puts smiley, neutral or miserable faces against entries and then works out what triggers him – which is often taking on too much – and has developed a template to maintain his mental wellbeing.
“I’d rather just stay simmering with my work, which means I’m not at high intensity all the time, just ticking over.”
Ronnie, who was awarded an OBE for services to snooker in 2016, has been described as “the most naturally gifted player ever”.
He was nicknamed The Rocket for his fast pace and holds the record for the fastest 147 maximum break – five minutes, eight seconds.
Ronnie's mother Maria also spent time in jail for tax evasion, leaving him to look after his little sister Danielle.
But his father’s imprisonment had a huge effect on his life. He said: “That was the biggest thing that just ravaged me, mentally and emotionally, it just ruined me. I thought, that’s it, I’m never going to see him.”
His misspent youth and problems with drugs, alcohol and depression have been well charted in two previous autobiographies.
O’Sullivan admits he hasn’t been the best parent, doesn’t see his eldest child Taylor-Ann and hasn’t been a hands-on parent to his two other children, Lily and Ronnie Jr after splitting from their mother.
He said: “It got to a point where I thought it was best for everyone, for my sanity and their sanity, that as long as they’re healthy, they’re good, I’m going to play the long game.”
He says he hopes to forge a better relationship with them as they get older.
Unbreakable by Ronnie O’Sullivan with Tom Fordyce is published by Seven Dials on May 11, priced £22.
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