Inside Ronnie O'Sullivan's on-off relationship with Strictly star Laila Rouass as pair leave UK for ‘clean break'
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN and Laila Rouass have had an on-and-off relationship down the years but have re-united after months apart.
The pair have jetted out to Dubai after rekindling their relationship, pals told The Sun.
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O'Sullivan first met Laila in 2012 and they were engaged a year later before moving in together in Essex.
The snooker star became stepdad to Laila's daughter, Inez, from her second marriage to businessman Nasir Khan.
But they put marriage on the "back burner" as Laila told The Sun: "We're enjoying our time. There's no rush."
Their relationship hit its first rocky patch in 2022, leading to a split.
Strictly star Laila, 53, took to social media and wrote: "After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways."
That did not last long however with the duo working out their differences and re-uniting.
O'Sullivan reportedly threw himself back into the relationship and he insisted they were "happier than ever".
He said: "It's good. She's great. I love her. She's great company and I love being around her.
"She's very supportive. I have to behave myself. I know when to go, 'Alright, you're in charge'.
"But she's also really good at going, 'Listen, you've got a busy life, you've got a lot to do, just get on with it'."
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He added: "Now it feels a lot better – everyone's just in a better place. I just want to see her and her daughter happy, and her family, who are like my family, happy."
Fast forward two years and they were back in a bad patch, with O'Sullivan moving out of their £2million Essex home.
The house was listed for sale with the seven-time world champion setting up shop in a London bachelor pad.
A friend of the couple said: "Ronnie and Laila really threw themselves back into their relationship after the split a couple of years ago.
"He kept posting pics of them online at home together and saying romantic things on special occasions, but that's all come to a halt.
"They've tried so hard but they just can't make it work."
Now the pair have ironed out their issues once more and not just back together, but planning a new life in the UAE.
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A source told us: 'They have been back together for a while.
'The time apart gave them time to think about what they want and what is important to them — and that is being together.
'Ronnie is moving to the Middle East and Laila is going with him. They've talked about living in Dubai, which is just a two-hour flight from where Ronnie has his snooker academy in Saudi Arabia.
'He has spoken to people on his snooker circuit about the move and is excited about a clean break from the UK for him and Laila.
'They have had their issues in the past but Ronnie and Laila have worked through it and seem really happy again.
'The people who know them think they make a great couple and just want them to live a happy, quiet life.'
The Sun first revealed they had ended their engagement last September after his hectic work schedule pushed them apart.
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