Ronnie O’Sullivan once lived on a canal boat before deciding to leave the UK in favour of Dubai. The snooker legend left England in the summer to begin a new adventure in the Middle-Eastern nation, which offers a far more glamorous lifestyle than the £130,000 narrow boat he used to call home.
O’Sullivan’s decision stemmed from his wife, former EastEnders and Footballers’ Wives actress Laila Rouass. The Rocket married Laila in June, just 10 months on from reports of their split, after being on and off for 13 years. He claimed Rouass refused to live in Sheffield, home of the iconic Crucible Theatre. Feeling that he had nowhere else to practice in the UK, moving to either Spain or Dubai was the couple’s only alternative. The 49-year-old opted for the latter, having launched an academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last year, as well as the UAE’s much closer proximity to China, where many of the tournaments he plays in are based.
“It’s really good. I’ve got a great practice facility there, which was one of the main reasons for going,” O’Sullivan told The Sun. “I was struggling to find somewhere to play. It was either get a train up to Sheffield or try to move to Sheffield. But my wife wasn’t too keen on Sheffield. So she said we either go Spain or Dubai.
“I’m really enjoying it out there. Great gyms. I’m enjoying that side of it. I had some friends over there before that played snooker and they’ve helped me get into Dubai life.”
He added: “I’ve met some really nice friends and fitted in really well. So yeah, it’s great. I’m not a sunbather, but I’d much rather the heat than cold, if that makes sense. Spring and autumn are my favourite times.”
O’Sullivan was previously based in Chigwell, Essex, where he lived in a Victorian-style mansion until his split with Rouass last year. Despite that, the seven-time world champion had previously voiced his preference for more humble living conditions, namely residing on a boat.
In 2018, he treated himself to a £130,000 luxury narrow boat, named Morfe Lady Three. He highlighted its spaciousness as opposed to staying in hotel rooms and stated his preference for being around water. He moored it on Regent’s Canal, which snakes through north and east London.
The 60-footer offered the perfect escape from the stresses of the capital thanks to its wide range of amenities. Its spacious lounge area was adorned with an indoor fireplace, cosy furnishings such as a sofa, armchair, and rug, as well as a television. O’Sullivan humbly spoke about his purchase to TV presenter Matt Smith in a Eurosport video, saying it’s “no big yacht but it’s alright.”
His floating retreat was kitted out with a modern kitchen that included a double oven and a wooden oval table. The boat also boasted a bedroom with a double bed and an en-suite bathroom featuring tiled floors, redwood vanity units with granite work tops, and a large wash basin.
He explained to Smith: “I lived on a boat about seven or eight years ago in London and I loved it. I spent about three or four months living on it but couldn’t use it because I had to get back to work – but I always had it in my mind that I’d buy another one.”
O’Sullivan went on to highlight the benefits of his curious purchase, adding: “I couldn’t sit in a hotel room but I come in, have a little kip, put the snooker on, the TV on, have a few friends come in. You don’t feel like you’re cooped up so much. It’s nice to see water.”
However, he reportedly listed his narrow boat for sale just a year later for £129,950, without looking for a replacement afterwards.