Inside Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass's whirlwind romance

It had all the hallmarks of a fairytale relationship.

He was the erratic genius, a lovable rogue who endeared himself to fans with his straight-talking style and silken snooker skills. She was the streetwise and glamorous Footballer's Wives star who supported him through all the ups and downs while forging her own success.

And while it wasn't always easy - far from it - news that the rollercoaster romance between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass is apparently over after 12 rarely uneventful years will still be greeted with sadness by fans.

The couple famously got together after Rouass was shown around O'Sullivan's home, which was up for sale, by the star's father in 2012.

Ronnie O'Sullivan Sr mentioned to his son that he had met Rouass, and O'Sullivan - known as 'Rocket' for his speedy playing style - lived up to his nickname by promptly calling the estate agent, a friend of the actress, to arrange a date.

Rouass was not easily impressed.

 'When she said he was a snooker player, I said, 'Yeah, but what does he do for a living?"' she recalled in 2016. "I'd never heard of him because sport doesn't interest me at all.'

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Ronnie O'Sullivan looks downcast as he is seen for first time since 'split' with fiancée Laila Rouass - while smiling Footballers' Wives star gets on with the weekly shop

Nonetheless, four months later the couple were living together, and in February 2013 they were engaged - as they have remained since, despite an eight-month split in 2022.

This time, though, it really does look like this could be the end, with Rouass, 53, repeatedly spotted without her wedding ring. 

Insiders have claimed that work commitments have caused the pair to drift apart, although the split would appear to be amicable, given that the pair shared an embrace while walking a dog together this week.

'Ronnie has spent months and months on the road this year doing snooker tours for big money in China and Saudi Arabia while Laila has been concentrating on her acting career,' a friend told the Sun.

'There is a lot of love between them, but they have been going in different directions and conceded it is over.

'Ronnie and Laila make a lovely couple, so the people who know them best are hoping this is a blip like back in 2022.'

If O'Sullivan, 48, wore a downcast expression when he was spotted getting into his car earlier this week in north-east London, it is perhaps not surprising.

From the beginning, Rouass has been a stabilising influence in the life of the seven-time world champion, whose struggles with depression, alcohol and drug abuse are well documented.

'I'm so proud of him and think he's very capable of handling his depression these days,' Rouass said after O'Sullivan, who has three children from previous relationships, was awarded an OBE in 2016.

'He's been strong enough to seek help, and brave enough to talk about the problem, and is so positive and upbeat about life.

'I do support him - just as he supports me - and it's easy to support someone when you know what they're going through. You know what you should and shouldn't say - it's about creating a safety net around them.

'He's under an immense amount of pressure, he's always a favourite to win, which can be hard, and we have to take that on board.

'He lives a very healthy lifestyle these days and uses exercise, especially running, to help him keep his depression at bay. It's inspiring being with him to be honest.'

O'Sullivan embraced the relationship equally wholeheartedly, forging a strong relationship with Rouass's daughter Inez, who was born in February 2007.

A desire to spend more time with her daughter prompted Rouass to leave her role as Sahira Shah in the medical drama Holby City in 2012, and the willingness with which O'Sullivan embraced the role of step-father was crucial in cementing the relationship.

'Ronnie's lovely with his children, we see them often, and he's a fabulous step-father to Inez,' Rouass told the Belfast Telegraph. 'He's such a good male role model for her and they're friends who laugh together as well.

'We're so lucky to have him. It was key to me that they got on because she's my priority.'

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Laila Rouass shared 'soul-destroying' struggles with fiancé Ronnie O'Sullivan as he battled his 'demons' in resurfaced clip - months before the couple's split after 12 years together

O'Sullivan, for his part, has credited Rouass with toughening him up. 

'Laila’s just a bit more streetwise than me, a bit more savvy,' said the scorer of a record 15 maximum 147 breaks.

Despite an outward appearance of harmony, however, a scene from O'Sullivan's Prime Video documentary The Edge of Everything, released last year, hinted at possible tensions between the scenes.

In a terse exchange following a defeat to Neil Robertson at the 2022 Masters, Rouass assures O'Sullivan that she would never tell him what to do with his career, but encourages him to manage his 'self-criticism'.

O'Sullivan replies that he has 'overcome his demons', leaving Rouass to wonder why he continues to subject himself to the highs and lows of professional sport.

'Why does he put himself through it?'' she agonises. 'It's, like, so soul-destroying.'

Now it would seem 'the big old knees-up in the East End' the couple once hoped for is off for good.