The opponent has placed 'O' in the top-left corner (0,0) and I currently have 'X' in the center (1,1). Playing in the bottom-right corner (2,2) is optimal because:

1. It blocks the opponent's potential diagonal strategy from top-left to bottom-right
2. It creates two potential winning paths for me - the diagonal from top-right to bottom-left, and a potential vertical line through the right column
3. It forces my opponent to play defensively on their next move rather than setting up their own winning opportunities
4. This creates a "fork" scenario where I'll have two potential winning lines in my next move if the opponent doesn't block correctly

This move maximizes my chances of winning while simultaneously preventing a potential diagonal threat from my opponent.