The 38-year-old Altrincham player managed to overcome the tragedy of his wife's death to topple tournament favourite and fellow Budenbergs team-mate Graeme Wilson to reach today's last 16.
Telford recently completed a fantastic season in the Manchester Evening News Premier League, winning all his 17 games and he came from 12-5 down to win 21-15 against Wilson.
He went into today's last 16 quoted joint third favourite at 6-1 to win the coveted title and the '3,000 first prize on tomorrow's finals day, but first had to overcome Rob Fitzpatrick, of Wallasey.
It was a bad day for the favourites with the likes of Simon Coupe, holder Gary Ellis, Lee Lawton and Glynn Cookson all biting the dust.
That left a new favourite in the shape of Mike Leach, who slammed Birmingham's Peter Davenport 21-7.
And still going strong is Hazel Grove's Noel Burrows, the 60-year-old who won the title back in 1972 and rated one of the top players in the game for the past 40 years. He toppled Grant Soller, of the Nursery club in Heaton Norris, 21-14.
Sixth round: A Daykin (Huddersfield) 21 S Coupe (Walton-le-Dale) 14, N Burrows (Hazel Grove) 21 G Soller (Macclesfield) 14, S Powell (Brighouse) 21 L Heaton (Chorley) 19, M Britton (Scholes) 21 G Ellis (Whitefield) 17, R Moxham (Barrow) 21 B Naylor (Wigan) 13, S Mort (Standish) 21 I Broadhurst (Macclesfield) 20, P Fielding (Rochdale) 21 J Reilly (Barrow) 9, I Nicholson (Kendal) 21 L Lawton (Failsworth) , G Whittle (Hoghton) 21 A Sykes (Mirfield) 11, K Wainwright (Warrington) 21 J Taylor (Warrington) 11, R Fitzpatrick (Wallasey) 21 T King (Dukinfield) 12, G Telford (Altrincham) 21 G I Wilson (Oldham) 15, H Birch (Wigan) 21 B Jenkinson (Pilling) 18, M Leach (Hothersall) 21 P Davenport (Birmingham) 7, S Rutter (Wolverhampton) 21 S J Allen (Disley) 18, D Reeves (Pudsey) 21 G Cookson (Winsford) 18. Tweet
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I would like to pay tribute to my brother who over the last four days showed such courage and amazing strength that he was able to step on to a bowling green never mind reach the final of the waterloo bowls handicap. I have never been prouder of a person in my life.
A true inspiration to all of us connected or not to the sport.
All at Budenbergs and all connected with Crown Green Bowls watched a true champion this week, to go on to the final of the Waterloo was one of the bravest things we witnessed. All our thoughts and prayers are with Geoff, James, Mike, Diane and Linda tomorrow