Abstract: A two-stroke engine (1) including, an engine block (2) having a cylinder (3), a double-ended piston (4) received for reciprocation in the cylinder (3), the piston (4) comprising a body having first and second opposing ends (7, 9), the first end (7) forming a wall of the combustion chamber (8), the second end (9) forming a wall of a pre-compression chamber (10), the piston (4) including a piston opening (11) between the first and second ends (7, 9); at least one passage extending from the pre-compression chamber (10) to the combustion chamber (8) for charging the combustion chamber(8); a connecting rod (6) operatively connecting the piston (4) to a crankshaft (5), and characterised in that the piston opening (11 ) encloses the connecting rod (6) and the crankshaft (5) protrudes through the piston opening (11).