Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan's turbulent relationship with actress Laila Rouass came to an end in December 2024 after years of on-again, off-again romance.
The pair had been together since 2012, with Rouass known for her roles in popular British television.
She appeared as Amber in Footballers' Wives and more recently featured in EastEnders as guest character Ayesha Siddhu in August 2024.
Their relationship had weathered previous separations before finally concluding last year.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass broke up in December last year
PA
The couple's first meeting came about through an unexpected property viewing in 2012. Laila was looking to purchase a home when she was shown around O'Sullivan's mansion by his father.
After learning of her interest, the snooker player contacted the estate agent, who was Laila's friend, to arrange a date.
Remarkably, Rouass was initially unaware of O'Sullivan's sporting fame.
"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," she once revealed.
Their relationship progressed quickly, with the couple moving into an Essex property together after just four months of dating.
O'Sullivan proposed to Rouass in 2013, though the pair never married.
Their relationship faced its first public challenge in February 2022 when they initially separated.
The couple reconciled after a few months, giving their relationship another chance.
However, the reconciliation proved temporary, with the pair finally splitting for good in December 2024.
This brought an end to what was described as "a rollercoaster of a romance that flickered on and off more than a TV screen in a thunderstorm."
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass had been dating for 12 yearsPAReports suggest that tensions with O'Sullivan's mother Maria may have contributed to the relationship breakdown.
According to Ronnie's younger sister Danielle, Maria once allegedly referred to Laila using derogatory terms.
Speaking to The Sun in 2020, Danielle claimed Maria had saved Laila's number in her phone under an offensive name.
She also allegedly told Ronnie that Laila was "just a prostitute".
A female relative of Laila's told the Daily Mail in 2022: "Ronnie's mum's attitude in the relationship has not helped. She does not sound like a very nice person to me."
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Ronnie O'Sullivan's mother Maria was reported to not get on well with Laila Rouass
PA
The same relative added: "Laila is a strong, beautiful woman who knows how to take care of herself. I'm sure she will be able to find another man quite easily because she is a good person."
Despite the difficult circumstances, Laila appeared philosophical about the breakup.
She wrote on Instagram: "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."
Her post continued: "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."
