The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word WINNERS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
W
I
N
N
E
R
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "They succeeded" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case they succeeded = winners.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WINNERS mean?
WINNERS noun- One who has won or often wins.
- A point or goal that wins a competition.