Given the current board state, X already occupies the center (1,1) and the bottom left (2,0), creating an immediate threat along the anti-diagonal: (0,2), (1,1), (2,0). If we do not block it, X would win on the next move by playing (0,2). Therefore, to both thwart X's immediate win and set up our own threats, the optimal move is to play at (0,2).