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Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass split after nearly ten years

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 05:  (L-R) Actress Laila Rouass and Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan watch the men's singles match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Roger Federer of Switzerland during day two of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at O2 Arena on November 5, 2013 in London, England.  (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Laila Rouass and Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan watching tennis in 2013 (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan and actor Laila Rouass have ended their almost decade-long romance.

Rouass confirmed the split on Wednesday writing on Twitter: "After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways. Peace & love to you all. Laila X."

Fans were swift to express their sadness in her comments as well as leaving their well wishes for both parties.

Read More Laila Rouass recalls nightmare experience on Strictly Come Dancing

The pair met in 2012 and became engaged the following year, but did not make it down the aisle.

While they had kept their relationship largely out of the public eye, Rouass, 50, who is best known for her role as Amber Gates in ITV soap drama Footballers’ Wives in the early 2000s, previously revealed that their romance began just by chance.

“It happened by accident,“ the star who was house hunting when she met the sports icon told Irish News in 2016. “I was shown around Ronnie’s house by his father, who told his son about meeting me.

Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan poses with his partner Laila Rouass after receiving an OBE from the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London.
Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan poses with his partner Laila Rouass after receiving an OBE from the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London.

“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.”

Although they became engaged in 2013, the pair explained that they hadn't tied the knot because “If something’s not broke, why fix it?"

LONDON - SEPTEMBER 5:  Cast members of
Footballers Wives stars (L-R) Ben Price, Helen Latham, Laila Rouass, Sarah Barrand and Jamie Davis with their award for 'Best Loved Drama' at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards, 2005 (MJ Kim/Getty Images)

“I’d have to really gear myself up for a wedding,“ Rouass told The Mirror in 2019. “At the moment we’ve put it on the back burner and we’re enjoying our time so there’s no rush.“

O'Sullivan, who has never married but has three children from two previous relationships, added: “It becomes a bit more important as you get older for legal reasons but for now we’re OK.

“If something’s not broke, why fix it? If it’s working, why change a winning formula? We’ve been engaged for a while now, so we know we want to be with each other, I’m sure we will get round to it.“

Ronnie O'Sullivan during his match against Jack Lisowski during day three of the 2022 Cazoo Masters at Alexandra Palace, London. Picture Date: Tuesday January 11, 2022. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Ronnie O'Sullivan during his match against Jack Lisowski during day three of the 2022 Cazoo Masters (John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)

He continued: “We’re very casual and laid-back about the whole thing anyway. When it happens, it will happen. I love her, I love her company, I admire her.

“She’s good for me in many ways and understands me and the business and gets it and what I go through.”

Ronnie O'Sullivan's representatives say the snooker star has no comment to make about the news.

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