Laila Rouass and Ronnie O'Sullivan left a string of secret clues that they'd split

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass have reportedly parted ways after 12 years together, but it’s not the first time they’ve split, as they briefly separated in 2022 before reuniting

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass reportedly split weeks ago as it was revealed they have parted ways after 12 years.

Clues hinted that the couple, who got engaged just one year after they first started dating, quietly separated over the summer. It was reported Laila and the snooker ace had split after friends confirmed to several outlets that they had called time on their long-term relationship, which was rumoured to be under strain due to their busy schedules.

According to The Sun, the 53-year-old actress, best known for her role in Footballers Wives, had ditched her engagement ring for her recent TV appearances, as viewers spotted her without it during an interview on This Morning. Laila was discussing her role on BBC One soap EastEnders, and while she appeared happy and relaxed, her ring from Ronnie was absent.

Fans of the couple also realised they had stopped posting about each other on social media. Instead, Laila has been focusing on the ongoing conflict in Palestine, while Ronnie has been sharing images from his travels around the world. The 48-year-old has been busy with a series of snooker commitments, and recently posted a photo dump from a trip to China. He hinted at possible heartbreak as he shared images of him winning a recent championship. “Got the job done out there today. I’m not flowing how I’d like to at the moment. But I’m through and I’ll keep going and keep trying to find my rhythm,” Ronnie wrote.

The couple have not been spotted together in weeks, while Ronnie was with Laila’s daughter Inez at the Wimbledon final back in July. A source told The Sun that the couple have been “spending a lot of time apart,” and this time, the split might be for good. They briefly parted ways in 2022 before reuniting last year, with Laila confirming they were back together in a post on social media.

Ronnie and Laila have been together for 12 years, but the subject of marriage was never on the cards, as they preferred to leave it “on the back burner”. She told The Sun earlier this year: “I’d have to really gear myself up for a wedding. At the moment we’ve put it on the back burner and we’re enjoying our time. There’s no rush.”

A clip from Ronnie’s Amazon Prime documentary The Edge Of Everything has resurfaced since news of the couple’s split, which shows them having a fraught discussion about the snooker star’s “demons”. As they talked about Ronnie’s mental health following a defeat, Laila said: “The reality is it's hard to watch somebody go through that emotionally. That's when the questions come in. ‘'Jesus, why is he doing this? Why does he put himself through it?' It's so soul-destroying. But that's because I think you do love it, as much as you maybe hate to admit it.”

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