Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed his 'clean start' with a digital detox since moving to Dubai this summer with his wife, Laila Rouass.
The Rocket, who turns 50 next month, relocated in June after selling his Essex home, choosing the Middle East over Yorkshire - or even Spain, which he had briefly considered - to focus on his beloved sport.
O’Sullivan met Rouass, an actress known for Footballers’ Wives and for finishing fourth on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. They got engaged in 2013, but their relationship was an on-off rollercoaster. After announcing their separation late last year, they surprised everyone by marrying in June before opting to relocate.
In Dubai, the seven-time world champion has cut off social media completely, and his phone has no messaging apps, news apps, or even a web browser. Only a handful of friends and family can reach him directly.
He told The Sunday Times: 'I wish I’d done it before, I might do it every six months. I’m not looking to progress my career through networking and that sort of thing. I’ve got my friends and that’s enough. The phone doesn’t really add to my life. So it’s quite nice, really.'
Their choice of Dubai was largely influenced by his new wife. Rouass, of Moroccan origin, wanted a sunny home, and the couple agreed the lifestyle there made it an even better fit.
'We’re not there for a bouji sort of lifestyle. I just like the simplicity of it there, the weather’s great,' he said.
Clearly drawn to a low-key life, the couple tied the knot at St George’s Town Hall in Shadwell, East London, without fanfare and without a best man.
'I didn’t actually have anyone there,' he said. 'I mean, we had Laila’s sisters. But we didn’t want anything big.'
O'Sullivan also admitted that not speaking the language makes an undisturbed lifestyle easier to maintain.
'One of the beauties of not knowing the language is I don’t really want to talk to everyone that I come in contact with,' he added. 'I know it sounds terrible but we just smile at each other, hello, and it’s good.'
The seven-time world champion has recently opened an academy in the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a joint venture with the Saudi government.
His glitzy five-table academy, which he regularly visits as a coach and mentor, serves as a training base for elite international players and young talent.
Being based in nearby Dubai also makes travel easier, with O'Sullivan adding that the constant travelling and resulting jet lag 'was a struggle'.
O’Sullivan will be back on the table this week at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia.
