Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has two causes for celebration after securing his record-equalling seventh world title at the weekend. The Rocket, as he is commonly known, has also rekindled his romance with his long-term fiancee Laila Rouass.
Ronnie split with Laila, 50, in February after a decade together, however it now appears the pair are back together.
The Mirror is reporting that the couple has, for the past fortnight, been together at the mansion the pair shared. Pictures also showed the former Holby City actress wearing her engagement ring again.
Ronnie secured his place in snooker history on Monday, May 2, when he secured his record-equalling seventh world title at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, beating Judd Trump in the showpiece final. The victory drew him level with Stephen Hendry for the most world titles in the modern era of the sport.
But it's his reunion with Laila that's grabbing the headlines.
A friend said: “It seems like they are giving things another go. Nothing is ever straightforward when it comes to Ronnie but there’s a lot of love there.”
Ronnie, 46, has spent the past fortnight in Sheffield during the World Championships but prior to travelling to the city, he was seen 170 miles south jogging near the home he shared with Laila.
Mum-of-one Laila and Ronnie, who has three kids from two previous relationships, met in 2012 while she was house-hunting and was shown his place.
She said: “I’d never heard of him because sport doesn’t interest me at all, although Ronnie’s won me over to snooker.”
They got engaged the following year but never tied the knot.
Ronnie has previously opened up about his past struggles with depression, alcohol and drug abuse.
Last year he revealed he believes he wasted nine years of his career in the 1990s and 2000s because he partied too hard and was not mentally ready to win trophies.
Asked why it had taken him until 2001 to win his first title – his ninth attempt – he told Eurosport: “I was partying quite a lot. The snooker season was September to May and the World Champs was the last tournament of the year. If I had a bad session I felt the sooner this is over, the sooner I can have some fun with my friends.”
