Snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan has publicly expressed his desire to repair his fractured relationship with his estranged eldest daughter, Taylor-Ann Magnus. The 49-year-old sports star, known as 'The Rocket', revealed in a remarkably honest interview that he feels he must make amends with the 27-year-old daughter he hasn't spoken to in nearly a decade.
A Decade of Estrangement and Hopes for Reconciliation
The rift between father and daughter became particularly public in 2022, shortly after O'Sullivan equaled Stephen Hendry's record of seven World Championship titles at the Crucible. Taylor-Ann gave a blistering interview to The Mirror at the time, stating unequivocally: 'He's not part of my life. I wouldn't want someone like that around me and my child.' She revealed the last time she saw her famous father was when she was 17 or 18 years old.
While the exact reasons for their fallout remain unclear, O'Sullivan has now broken his silence in an interview with The Times. When questioned about whether their estrangement was permanent, the snooker champion responded with heartfelt uncertainty: 'I hope not. I think I've got to make some sort of amends. I don't know how it's going to work out. Hopefully at some point it might sort itself out. Who knows? I don't know.'
Family Dynamics and a Missing Grandchild
The situation is particularly poignant given that O'Sullivan has never met his own granddaughter, Zarah-Ann. Taylor-Ann revealed in a 2020 interview with The Sun that despite her father's public persona as a champion, he was unfit to be called 'Dad' or 'Grandad' in her eyes. She stated bluntly: 'Zarah-Ann will grow up never knowing who he is. He's made so many promises but what he says and does is so different.'
This stands in stark contrast to O'Sullivan's relationship with his two younger children. He maintains a strong bond with 19-year-old Lily and 18-year-old Ronnie Jr, whom he had with ex-partner Jo Langley. Both children were photographed smiling proudly beside him when he lifted the World Championship trophy in 2022, a visible demonstration of their ongoing connection.
New Life in Dubai and Maintaining Connections
O'Sullivan recently relocated to Dubai with his wife Laila Rouass, whom he married in June this year - just ten months after reports surfaced about their split. The couple chose the United Arab Emirates after Rouass refused to live in Yorkshire, and O'Sullivan claimed he had nowhere else to practice in the UK.
Addressing concerns that his move to the Middle East might strain his relationship with his younger children, O'Sullivan was quick to reassure: 'They just want me to be happy'. He surprisingly claimed that he now sees more of his daughter Lily than he ever used to, describing her as 'quite laid-back, very chilled.'
The snooker legend explained that life in London had become 'all a bit hectic' for him, with his daily highlight reduced to having a cup of tea at Carluccio's in Stratford Westfield. He cited work commitments in the Middle East and China, along with struggling with jet lag, as additional reasons for the relocation. 'We're not there for a bougie sort of lifestyle,' O'Sullivan insisted. 'I just like the simplicity of it then, the weather's great.'
As the snooker world looks ahead to the next World Championship in late May, O'Sullivan will be targeting a record-breaking eighth title. Yet beyond the baize, his personal quest to rebuild broken family bonds appears to be the more challenging and significant pursuit of his life beyond the sport.
